The National Library of Medicine has a freely accessible database of drugs in lactation called LactMed.
You can search LactMed using either the common name or the medical name. For example, when I type in “Paxil” the first result I get is for “Paroxetine.”
A search will result in a summary of whether or not the drug can be taken while breastfeeding and why.
Each entry also includes…
- Drug Levels
- Effects in Breastfed Infants
- Possible Effects on Lactation
- Alternate Drugs to Consider
As with any good reputable resource, a reference list of the studies the information is based on and the last time the information was updated is included at the end.
2 responses so far ↓
1 HChavers // Aug 13, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I am a hospital based lactation consultant need to provide information for anesthesiologist regarding use of ketamine in delivering and lactating mothers to include concerns re: use of this drug while breastfeeding and what alternatives might be used instead. What are recommendations regarding pumping and dumping after a mom has had a c/section with administration of ketamine. Thank you,
2 Susan // Aug 14, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Dear HChavers:
Unfortunately, I was unable to find any existing data regarding the use of ketamine in humans and the possible effect it would have on babies via breast feeding. I was not able to find anything like that with animals either. I searched MedlinePlus, PubMed, and LactMed.
I did find, when searching MedlinePlus, a piece from the March of Dimes that there is data that points to negative effects to unborn children when the mother uses ketamine. “Babies exposed before birth to PCP or ketamine may be at increased risk of learning and behavioral problems (7, 17).”
Since there is no existing data, I would recommend to your anesthesiologist that they use a drug where there is existing data. If you go to LactMed and search for “anesthesia” you will get a list of drugs used in anesthesia for which there is data. For example, an entry in LactMed about Thiopental reads, ” Amounts of thiopental in milk are very small. Existing data indicate that no waiting period is required before resuming breastfeeding after thiopental anesthesia.”
Sincerely,
Susan Fowler, MLIS
314-454-2768
SFowler22@wustl.edu
“The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.” Benjamin Franklin
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