Whether you're suffering from congestion brought on by allergies or pain associated with a more serious health problem, you're probably ready to head to the medicine cabinet for some relief. Although many medications are safe to use while breastfeeding, almost any drug will get into your milk to some degree and can occasionally affect your milk supply. To be safe, you should always check with your child's doctor before taking any kind of medication, even over-the-counter drugs.
The information in our chart was compiled by Philip Anderson, a pharmacist and the director of the Drug Information Service at the
Safe to Take in Usual Doses
| Name of Drug | Brand Name | Use |
| Acetaminophen | Tylenol | Used for pain relief |
| Acyclovir | Zovirax | Antiviral for herpes infections |
| Antacids | Maalox, Mylanta | Used to treat upset stomachs |
| Bupivacaine | Marcaine | A local anesthetic |
| Caffeine | coffee, soft drinks | A stimulant |
| Cephalosporins | Keflex, Ceclor, Ceftin, Omnicef, Suprax | Antibiotics for lung, ear, skin, urinary tract, throat and bone infections |
| Clotrimazole | Lotrimin, Mycelex | Used to treat yeast and fungal infections |
| Contraceptives (Progestin-Only) | Micronor, Norplant, Depo-Provera | Used for birth control |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone | Used to treat inflammation of joints and other conditions |
| Decongestant nasal sprays | Afrin | Used to treat stuffy noses |
| Digoxin | Lanoxin | Used to treat heart problems |
| Erythromycin | E-Mycin, Erythrocin | Used for skin and respiratory infections |
| Fexofenadine | Allegra | Antihistamine for allergies and hay fever |
| Fluconazole | Diflucan | Used to treat yeast infections |
| Heparin and LMW Heparins | | Keep blood from clotting |
| Ibuprofen | Motrin, Advil | Used for pain relief |
| Inhalers, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids | Albuterol, Vanceril | Used for asthma |
| Insulin | | For diabetes; dosage required may drop up to 25 percent during lactation |
| Labetalol | Normodyne, Trandate | Used for high blood pressure |
| Laxatives, bulk-forming and stool softening | Metamucil, Colace | Used to treat constipation |
| Lidocaine | Xylocaine | A local anesthetic |
| Loratadine | Claritin | Antihistamine for allergies and hay fever |
| Low molecular weight heparins (enoxaparin, dalteparin, tinzaparin) | Lovenox, Fragmin, Innohep | Anticoagulants |
| Magnesium sulfate | | Used to treat preeclampsia and eclampsia |
| Methyldopa | Aldomet | Used to treat high blood pressure |
| Methylergonovine (short courses) | Methergine | Used to prevent or control bleeding after childbirth |
| Metoprolol | Lopressor | A beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure |
| Miconazole | Monistat 3 | Used to treat yeast infections |
| Nifedipine | Adalat, Procardia | Used for high blood pressure and Raynaud's syndrome of the nipple |
| Penicillins | Amoxicillin, Penicillin VK | Used to treat bacterial infections |
| Propranolol | Inderal | A beta blocker used to treat heart problems, and high blood pressure |
| Theophylline | Theo-Dur | Used to treat asthma and bronchitis |
| Thyroid replacement | Synthroid | Used to treat thyroid problems |
| Vaccines (except smallpox) | | |
| Vancomycin | Vancocin, Vancoled | An antibiotic |
| Verapamil | Calan, Isoptin, Verelan | Used for high blood pressure |
| Warfarin | Coumadin | Used to treat or prevent blood clots |
Probably Safe in Usual Doses
Little is known about the effects of these drugs on a breastfeeding infant, but if there is an effect, it will probably be mild. In rare cases, a child will have an allergic reaction.
| Name of Drug | Brand Name | Use |
| ACE inhibitors | Enalapril (Vasotec), Benazepril (Lotensin) | Used to treat high blood pressure |
| Acyclovir and valacyclovir | Zovirax, Valtrex | Antiviral for herpes infections |
| Anticholinergic agents | Pro-Banthine | Used to treat intestinal and gall bladder spasms; may reduce milk supply |
| Anticonvulsants | Depakote, Dilantin, Tegretol (avoid ethosuximide, phenobarbital, and primidone) | Used for seizures and mood disorders |
| Antihistamines | Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton | May reduce milk supply and cause infant drowsiness or fussiness |
| Antituberculars | INH | Used to treat tuberculosis |
| Azathioprine | Imuran | Used to suppress the immune system following organ transplants |
| Barbiturates (except phenobarbital) | Fiorinal, Fioricet | For sedation and tension headaches |
| Bupropion | Wellbutrin | For depression |
| Clindamycin | Cleocin | Used to treat abdominal and vaginal infections |
| Oral Decongestants | Sudafed, Entex PSE | Used to treat congestion associated with colds or allergies; often reduces milk supply |
| Ergonovine (short course) | | Used to treat uterine bleeding. May reduce milk supply. |
| Fluconazole | Diflucan | Antifungal |
| Gadolinium | Magnevist, Omniscan | Contrast agent for MRI studies |
| Haloperidol | Haldol | Used to treat psychosis |
| Histamine H2 blockers | Cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatadine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid — preferred) | Used to treat stomach problems |
| Hydrochlorothiazide (low doses) | HydroDiuril | Diuretic for high blood pressure |
| Lorazepam | Ativan | Used to treat anxiety |
| Methimazole | Tapazole | Used for hyperthyroidism; less than 20 mg/day is probably safe |
| Metoclopramide | Reglan | Used for gastrointestinal problems and to increase milk supply |
| Midazolam | | Sedative used in anesthesia |
| Naproxen | Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve | Used for pain relief; okay if baby is at least 1 month old |
| Oxazepam | Serax | Used to treat anxiety |
| Paroxetine | Paxil | Used to treat depression |
| Phenothiazines | Compazine (anti-nausea), Stelazine, Thorazine (anti-psychotic) | |
| Propofol | Diprivan | Sedative used in anesthesia |
| Propylthiouracil (PTU) | | Used to treat hyperthyroidism |
| Quinidine | | Used to treat heartbeat irregularities |
| Quinolone antibacterials | Cipro and Levaquin; Noroxin is preferred | Treatment of urinary tract infections and gonorrhea |
| Salicylates (occasional use) | Aspirin | Used for pain relief |
| Sertraline | Zoloft | Used to treat depression |
| Spironolactone | Aldactone, Aldactazide | Used to treat high blood pressure |
| Sulfisoxazole | Gantrisin | Used to treat urinary tract infections |
| Sumatriptan | Imitrex | Used to treat migraines |
| Tetracyclines <> | tetracycline, doxycycline | Used to treat acne and urinary tract infections |
| Trazodone | | Used for depression and sleep |
| Tricyclic antidepressants (avoid doxepin) | Elavil, Tofranil, Pamelor | Used to treat depression |
| Verapamil | Calan, Isoptin, Verelan | Used for high blood pressure |
Potentially Hazardous
You should avoid or use these drugs with caution, particularly while breastfeeding a newborn or premature infant.
| Name of Drug | Brand Name | Use |
| Acebutolol | Sectral | A beta blocker used to treat high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. |
| Atenolol | Tenormin | A beta blocker used to treat high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. |
| Antihistamine/decongestant combinations | Contac, Dimetapp | Used to treat colds and allergies; may reduce your milk supply |
| Benzodiazepines | long-acting Librium, Valium, Dalmane | Used to treat anxiety and for sleep (lorazepam, oxazepam preferred) |
| Chlorthalidone | Hygroton, Thalitone | Diuretic used to treat high blood pressure; may reduce milk supply |
| Citalopram | Celexa | Antidepressant; can cause infant drowsiness |
| Clindamycin | Cleocin | Used to treat abdominal and vaginal infections |
| Clonidine | Catapres | Used to treat high blood pressure, may reduce milk supply |
| Contraceptives (Estrogen-containing) | Ortho-Novum, Lo-Ovral, Loestrin | Used for birth control; may reduce milk supply |
| Doxepin | Sinequan | Used to treat depression |
| Egotamine | Cafergot | Used to treat migraines |
| Ethosuximide | Zarontin | Used to treat epilepsy |
| Fluorescein IV | | Used to diagnose retinal problems |
| Fluoxetine | Prozac, Serafem | Used to treat depression |
| Iodinated contrast media | | Used to examine kidneys; withhold breastfeeding temporarily |
| Lamotrigine | Lamictal | Used for seizures and mood disorders |
| Lithium (monitor infant serum levels) | Lithobid | Used to treat bipolar disease |
| Metronidazole | Flagyl | An antibiotic used to treat some intestinal and genital infections |
| Nadolol | Corgard | A beta blocker used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems |
| Narcotics, especially meperidine in addicts, or with high doses in neonates | Tylenol #3, Vicodin | Used for pain (one tablet every four hours maximum) |
| Nefazodone | Serzone | Used for depression |
| Nicotine | | |
| Nitrofurantoin | Macrobid | Used to treat urinary tract infections (safe after the baby is one month old |
| Phenobarbital, anticonvulsant doses | | Sedative and anticonvulsant |
| Piroxicam | Feldene | Used to treat arthritis and pain |
| Primidone | Mysoline | Used to treat seizures |
| Reserpine | | Used to treat hypertension |
| Sotalol | Betapace | Used to treat heart problems |
| Thiazide diuretics, long-acting or high doses | Aquatensin, Enduron, Lozol, Renese | For high blood pressure or edema |
| Venlafaxine | Effexor | Used to treat depression |
Not safe to take
You shouldn't use any of these drugs while breastfeeding. If you must take them for health reasons, you should stop breastfeeding — either temporarily or permanently — depending on how long you need to take them. To keep your milk supply up you can "pump and dump" — that is, use a breast pump and discard what you collect until you're ready to breastfeed again.
| Name of Drug | Brand Name | Use |
| Amantadine | Symmetrel | Used to treat the flu or Parkinson's disease; may reduce milk supply |
| Amiodarone | Cordarone | Used to treat heart problems |
| Antilipemics (excluding resins) | Lescol, Lipitor, Lopid, Mevacor, Pravacor, Zocor | Used to lower the level of cholesterol in the blood |
| Antineoplastic agents | | Used to treat cancer |
| Aspirin (large doses) | | Used to treat arthritis |
| Cocaine | | |
| Chlorampenicol | | Used to treat serious infections |
| Clozapine | Clozaril | Used to treat schizophrenia |
| Dipyrone (dipirona in Mexican drugs) | | Used for pain and inflammation |
| Gold Salts | Myochrysine | Used to treat arthritis |
| Iodide | Betadine | Used for douching |
| Lipid-lowering drugs | Baycol, Lescol, Lipitor, Lopid, Mevacor, Pravacor, Zocor | Used to lower the level of fats in the blood |
| Metamizole (Dipyrone) | | Analgesic/anti-inflammatory. Banned in U.S. but available in Mexico |
| Salicyclates, large doses | Aspirin | Used to treat arthritis |
source from http://www.babycenter.com
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