Are there interactions between breast milk and common medications?
Drugs contraindicated during breastfeeding include anticancer drugs, lithium, oral retinoids, iodine, amiodarone and gold salts. An understanding of the principles underlying the transfer into breast milk is important, as is an awareness of the potential adverse effects on the infant.
Can a mother take medicine while breastfeeding?
Most medications are safe to take while breast-feeding. Also, the benefit of continuing to take a medication for a chronic condition while breast-feeding often outweighs any potential risks.
What medications affect breast milk?
Most medications for chronic conditions (such as for asthma, heart conditions, thyroid disease, high blood pressure and diabetes)
When should a breastfeeding mother take medication?
Short-acting medicines are best taken immediately after a nursing session, while longer-acting medicines should be taken just before your baby’s longest sleep period.
Which one of the medication should be avoided while breastfeeding?
ANSWER: Only a few drugs pose a clinically significant risk to breastfed babies. In general, antineoplastics, drugs of abuse, some anticonvulsants, ergot alkaloids, and radiopharmaceuticals should not be taken, and levels of amiodarone, cyclosporine, and lithium should be monitored.
Which mothers should not breastfeed?
Mothers infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or type II should not breast feed their babies. Mothers who are taking illegal drugs like cocaine, PCP, heroin, marijuana etc. are not allowed to breastfeed their babies. This is because these agents can affect the baby and cause serious side effects.
What medications can you not take while breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding women should avoid aspirin and products containing aspirin (this includes Pepto Bismal taken for an upset stomach), as well as products containing naproxen (Aleve). In contrast, acetominophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofin (Motrin, Advil) are not known to have any negative effects on nursing babies.
Does medication decrease milk supply?
Use medications with caution. Certain medications decrease milk supply, including medications containing pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Zyrtec D, others). Your health care provider might also caution against certain types of hormonal contraception, at least until breast-feeding is firmly established.
What medications should not be taken while breastfeeding?
How long do drugs stay in breastmilk?
The elimination half-life is 6 to 12 hours. Infants breastfed by amphetamine users experience irritability, poor sleeping, agitation, and excessive crying. Infant deaths from cardiopulmonary failure have been reported. Milk should be pumped and discarded for 48 to 100 hours after use, which is impractical.
