Medicine During Breast-Feeding

BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING:When it comes to nutrition, experts say breast milk is the best. It is perfectly suited to nourish infants and protect them from illness. In fact, no baby is born allergic to its mothers' milk. They may be allergic to something in the milk, but a change in the mother's diet will usually solve that problem. Research shows breastfed infants have lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies and other medical problems than infants who are bottle-fed. Experts say human milk has at least 100 nutrients not found in formula and it is critical in the development of antibodies. Despite these benefits, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics says many mothers stop nursing their infants due to the use of needed medications and advice from her physician to do so. They say this advice may not be warranted and most drugs likely to be prescribed to the nursing mother should not affect her milk supply or the well-being of her child. Here are some of the AAP's guidelines for safe and unsafe medications while breastfeeding:

MEDICATIONS CONSIDERED TO BE SAFE:
Penicillin antibiotics
Cephalosporin antibiotics
Flagyl (metronidazole)
Reglan (metoclopramide)
Zoloft (sertraline)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Motrin, Advil (ibuprofen)
Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Inderal (proopranolol)
Zithromax (azithromycin)
Erythromycin antibiotics
Codeine
Morphine at moderate doses
Pepcid (famotidine)
Prilosec (omeprazole)
Heparin
Insulin
Diflucan (fluconazole)
All vaccines

MEDICATIONS CONSIDERED UNSAFE DURING BREASTFEEDING:
Ace inhibitors
Acebutolol
Amphetamines
Anticancer agents
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines (Valium-like)
Bromocriptine (Parlodel)
Cabergoline (Dostinex)
Ergotamine
Estrogens
Fluoroquinolones
Lithium
Lovastatin and others
Methotrexate
NSAIDS
Antipsychotics
Radioactive Iodine-131

WHAT TO ASK: In addition to these guidelines, the AAP recommends doctors consider the following questions when thinking about giving medication to a breastfeeding mother:

Is this drug really necessary?

Is this the safest medication available?

If there is a risk, should the baby's blood level of this drug be monitored?

Can the mother take the medication in a way that decreases the baby's exposure?

For More Information, Contact:
Jane Shaskan
UConn Health Center
Office of Communications
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-5385
(860) 679-4777
E-mail: shaskan@nso.uchc.edu

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