Good source for medications and breastfeeding?

CincyJen · #1 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007, 09:21 AM

Anyone know a good source for information on specific medications and breastfeeding? Is it true that as your baby gets older, taking medication is less likely to affect him through your breastmilk?

ScorpiosThree · #2 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007, 10:48 AM

The DEFINITIVE book for medications and breastfeeding is Dr. Hale's "Medications and Mother's Milk":

http://www.amazon.com/Medications-Mo...6485794&sr=8-1

Here is the online forum for Medications and Mother's Milk:
http://neonatal.ama.ttuhsc.edu/cgi-b...s&access=guest

It's open for guests to read, search on the medication in question. Dr. Hale has done research on most meds, and the ones he hasn't he says so.

Yes, it is true that older nurslings aren't as affected by what's in the breast milk because 1.) They're not eating as much of it, more solid food and 2.) their bodies are bigger so the tiny concentration that is in the breast milk often doesn't even show up in their blood.

You might be surprised at how many meds are safe while breastfeeding. So few of them show up in any real concentration in the milk to begin with, and once the milk has been exposed to stomach acids very few meds are even still present. I have had bursitis in my hips and I have depression, so just about the whole time I've been pregnant and nursing I was taking pain medication and antidepressants, neither of which have affected my daughter in any way.

CincyJen · #3 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007, 11:48 AM

Kara - thanks so much. Do you happen to have his book? If so I wonder if you might look up Seroquel. One of the posts I found on that thread says that "his latest book has information on Seroquel" (but he doesn't have what it is) That post was in 6/2006

mom2tig99Nroo03 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007, 12:51 PM

i have the older version... somewhere.

if wannab doesn't have it, many LLLL have it, and pretty mcuh all ibclc have it.

you could always call your local leader to find out what lactaiton risk category it is, and also what the recommended alternatives are.

if you need help contacting a leader, let me know and i'll help you look.

oh, and generally, yes it is true. older children have more mature livers,kidneys etc and can filter out meds better, plus older children are usually not solely bf and dependant on mom for all their nutritional needs.

CincyJen · #5 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007, 01:50 PM

Thanks! I will try my La Leche leader. I'm having insomnia again... I hate it. I will try to make it without meds at least until Cameron is 6 months though.

Ironic... Cameron sleeps great, but I have trouble taking advantage of it

ScorpiosThree · #6 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007, 03:04 PM

Jen, Seroquel is listed as Lactation Risk L2. I found this interesting:

It has been shown to increase the incidence of seizures, prolactin levels, and to lower thyroid levels in adults

So does that mean it would help your milk supply some? I don't know, but I thought it was interesting.

Pediatric Concerns: None reported via milk in one small study.

Here's another quote:

The authors report that an exclusively breastfed infant would ingest only 0.09% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose. At maximum, the infant would ingest 0.43% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose. Although only one patient was studied, the data suggests levels in milk are minimal at this maternal dose. [200mg/day]

Hope that helps! The edition I have was published in 2006.

My personal opinion is that you'll be much better off taking this drug than going without meds. But I'm not a doctor

mom2tig99Nroo03 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-15-2007, 03:50 PM

if you cosleep though, i would make sure to start using a sidecar arrangement or something similar. cosleepiong is a great way to help prevent sids and such, but it is not as safe if the parent is on narcotics/ sleeping meds/ alcohol/ etc.

amallicoat · #8 (**permalink**) 05-01-2007, 09:09 PM

Sorry to jump in here so late

Here is a site I use a lot: http://www.safefetus.com/