All medicines transfer into breast milk.
The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risk of exposure to most medicines via breast milk.
The following is a guide only and the list is not exhaustive. |
|
Class |
Examples of Individual Medicines |
Analgesics |
opioid analgesics* (short courses < 2 days): morphine, oxycodone, codeine, paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen |
Anticoagulants |
enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin |
Antiepileptic drugs* |
carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproate sodium |
Antidepressants* |
SSRIs: citalopram, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline SNRIs: venlafaxine tricyclics: amitriptyline, nortriptyline |
Antidiabetic |
insulin, metformin |
Antihistamines |
cetirizine, loratadine |
Antihypertensives |
ACE inhibitors: enalapril, perindopril beta blockers: labetalol, metoprolol, propanolol calcium channel blockers: diltiazem, nifedipine methyldopa |
Antimicrobials |
betalactams: amoxicillin, flucloxacillin cephalosporins: cefalexin, ceftriaxone, cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, cefepime, ceftazidime macrolides: azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin metronidazole (shorter courses – e.g. 400 to 600 mg BD for 7 to 10 days; avoid higher doses e.g. 2000 mg) nitrofurantoin trimethoprim, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole aciclovir, valaciclovir |
Antipsychotics* |
haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone |
Hypnotics* |
short courses (< 2 days) of midazolam, temazepam, zopiclone |
Cardiac glycoside |
digoxin |
Contraceptives |
progestogen-only, combined oral contraceptives after 6 weeks post-partum |
Corticosteroids (short courses) |
prednisone (< 20 mg/day) |
Gastrointestinal drugs |
domperidone proton pump inhibitors: omeprazole, pantoprazole mesalazine |
* For all, monitor infant for adverse effects (e.g. sedation, jitteriness, lethargy, poor feeding).
Topic Code: 93270