Drugs
Use of drugs or other substances
The assumption of a drug in lactation must take into account the risk/benefit and must be prescribed by the doctor; particular attention should be paid when infants are less than 2 months old, as their metabolism is immature.
Drugs, such as antiblastics or some hormones, represent an absolute contraindication to breastfeeding.
Other drugs or substances contraindicated during breastfeeding are:
- amiodarone;
- indomethacin;
- ergotamine;
- lithium;
- anti-epileptics;
- heroin;
- morphine;
- cocaine;
- amphetamines;
- anorectic drugs;
- bromocriptine;
- methimazole;
- diphenhydramine;
- cyproheptamine.
Most of the drugs that pass into the breast milk, gradually decrease their concentration in the milk with the time elapsed since the assumption, some drugs have however a long half-life.
Advice: take the drug (if possible) immediately after the end of feeding to have the lowest concentration possible in breast milk.
- Contraindications to breastfeeding for maternal illnesses:
- Current Hepatitis B;
- HIV infection (AIDS) (the virus can be transmitted through breast milk, so in case of positivity, breastfeeding is not recommended);
- state of severe debilitation of any origin ;
- puerperal psychosis (a rare condition not to be confused with postpartum depression);
- consumption of more than 30 cigarettes per day;
- alcoholism;
- current drug addiction;
- herpes simplex at the nipple bilaterally;
- breast cancer (if the mother has cancer, the therapy she is undergoing will make breastfeeding impossible; if she has had a mastectomy, as well as a lumpectomy, she can breastfeed effectively using the other breast);
