Nystatin for yeast infections while breast-feeding

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
nystatin	Mycostatin

How It Works

Nystatin is an antibiotic that kills yeast, such as Candida albicans.

Nystatin is used as a cream or ointment to treat yeast infections of the breast and nipple. A liquid formulation is used to treat thrush in a baby's mouth. For more information, see the topic Thrush.

Why It Is Used

Nystatin is used to treat a yeast infection that is causing:

• Red or very pink nipples with burning pain upon breast-feeding or breast-pumping or between feedings.
• Thick, white patches in the mouth and/or a red rash in the diaper area (one type of diaper rash) of the breast-feeding infant.

How Well It Works

Nystatin often relieves the symptoms of breast yeast infections in 24 to 72 hours. Treatment for thrush in the child usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. Treatment is continued for 7 to 14 days after symptoms clear up to ensure that the yeast has been eliminated. Nystatin usually is effective as a cure.

Side Effects

Nystatin rarely causes side effects in a mother or breast-feeding child. High oral doses may produce diarrhea, abdominal pain, and/or nausea.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Usually both the breast-feeding woman and her baby are treated at the same time, even if only one of the two has symptoms.

Talk to your doctor if tenderness and redness resolve but deep pain in the breast continues in between or during feedings. The infection may be inside the breast. You will usually need another prescription medicine that may be taken for a couple of weeks or more.

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Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW	Last Updated: May 10, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
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