Baby Safety / Compounds / Ergotamine

Is Ergotamine safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are more vulnerable to Ergotamine than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What is ergotamine?

The IUPAC name is (6aR,9R)-N-[(1S,2S,4R,7S)-7-benzyl-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-5,8-dioxo-3-oxa-6,9-diazatricyclo[7.3.0.02,6]dodecan-4-yl]-7-methyl-6,6a,8,9-tetrahydro-4H-indolo[4,3-fg]quinoline-9-carboxamide.

Also known as: (6aR,9R)-N-[(1S,2S,4R,7S)-7-benzyl-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-5,8-dioxo-3-oxa-6,9-diazatricyclo[7.3.0.02,6]dodecan-4-yl]-7-methyl-6,6a,8,9-tetrahydro-4H-indolo[4,3-fg]quinoline-9-carboxamide, Ergotamin, Ergonsvine, Ergotamina.

IUPAC name
(6aR,9R)-N-[(1S,2S,4R,7S)-7-benzyl-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-5,8-dioxo-3-oxa-6,9-diazatricyclo[7.3.0.02,6]dodecan-4-yl]-7-methyl-6,6a,8,9-tetrahydro-4H-indolo[4,3-fg]quinoline-9-carboxamide
CAS number
113-15-5
Molecular formula
C33H35N5O5
Molecular weight
581.7 g/mol
SMILES
CC1(C(=O)N2C(C(=O)N3CCCC3C2(O1)O)CC4=CC=CC=C4)NC(=O)C5CN(C6CC7=CNC8=CC=CC(=C78)C6=C5)C
PubChem CID
8223

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are more vulnerable to Ergotamine than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Ergotamine, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Ergotamine.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EFSA—Group TDI of 0.6 μg/kg body weight/dayFor ergot alkaloids (ergotamine+ergosine+ergocristine+ergocryptine+ergocornine+ergometrine)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter ergotamine

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Ergotamine:

  • Prevention (storage and agricultural practices)
    Trade-offs: Zero point-of-use emissions; shifts emissions to power generation (grid-dependent); lower operating cost; higher capital cost; infrastructure requirements (charging, grid capacity); rapidly improving economics.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is ergotamine safe for kids?

Infants are more vulnerable to Ergotamine than children or adults due to immature hepatic/renal clearance, higher intake-to-body-weight ratio, rapid organ development, and increased gastrointestinal absorption.

What products contain ergotamine?

Ergotamine appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to ergotamine?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Ergotamine in the baby app

Look up products containing ergotamine, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 82: Some Traditional Herbal Medicines, Some Mycotoxins, Naphthalene and Styrene — Ochratoxin A Group 2B, Fumonisin B1 Group 2B, Sterigmatocystin Group 2B, Patulin Group 3, Deoxynivalenol Group 3 (2002) (2002) — regulatory
  2. EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM): Scientific Opinions on Mycotoxins — Ochratoxin A (TWI 120 ng/kg bw/wk), Deoxynivalenol (TDI 1 μg/kg bw/day), Zearalenone, Fumonisins, T-2/HT-2 Toxins; EU Regulation 1881/2006 maximum levels in food (2020) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →