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Antidepressants and breast-feeding : a review of the literature

journal contribution
posted on 2000-05-01, 00:00 authored by Seetal DoddSeetal Dodd, A Buist, T Norman
For every antidepressant so far investigated in the breast milk of mothers prescribed these medications, findings indicate that some amount of drug will be excreted into the breast milk. Nursing infants will be exposed to some, usually a very low, amount of drug and drugmetabolites. Levels of drug exposure to infants for the many antidepressants available are examined, discussing milk to plasma drug concentration ratios and the infant dose as a percentage of thematernal dose. Drug concentrations in infant plasma and adverse effects of drug exposures to infants are reviewed. Factors influencing the decision on whether to breast or bottle feed an infant nursed by a mother taking antidepressants are discussed, concluding that the decision needs to be made on an individual basis. The lactating mother, in consultation with her doctor, should be in a position to make an informed decision on whether or not to breast feed. Under certain circumstances the decision to bottle feed may be wise, but more commonly the advantages of breast-feeding will outweigh the very low risk of an adverse event from drug exposure to the infant.

History

Journal

Paediatric drugs

Volume

2

Issue

3

Pagination

183 - 192

Publisher

Adis International

Location

Auckland, N.Z.

ISSN

1174-5878

eISSN

1179-2019

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2000, Adis International

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