Drugs and Breast Feeding—A Review

Abstract

A review of information on drugs excreted into and affecting the production of breast milk in humans is presented. Much of the information on these drugs is incomplete based on small numbers of individuals and insensitive assay techniques and subject to criticism. It is difficult to predict how much of a drug will pass into the milk but is safe to assume that anything can pass through. Some drugs are contraindicated for breast-feeding. Others may cause allergic or idiosyncratic reactions in the infant. The drugs are listed by type along with the numbers of patients taking the drug the dose milk level (range and/or average levels measured time of levels relative to time of dosing and level in milk relative to simultaneous plasma serum or blood measurements) and comments (effect noted in infants effects on milk flow significance of findings precautions for use and comments on methodology). The drugs include: 1) antiinfective agents; 2) anticoagulants; 3) antineoplastic agents; 4) autonomic drugs; 5) central nervous system drugs; 6) diuretics; 7) gastrointestinal drugs; 8) hormones and synthetic substitutes; 9) radiopharmaceuticals; 10) vitamins minerals and food; 11) a miscellaneous assortment of drugs; and 12) environmental agents.