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Can you breastfeed taking trazodone?

Breastfeeding and Trazodone: What You Need to Know
Breastfeeding is a crucial aspect of maternal and infant health, providing essential nutrients and antibodies to newborns. However, many new mothers must navigate their mental health needs while considering the safety of medications like trazodone, an antidepressant often prescribed for depression and anxiety.
Understanding Trazodone
Trazodone is primarily used to treat major depressive disorder and is sometimes prescribed off-label for insomnia and anxiety. It works by balancing chemicals in the brain, particularly serotonin. As with any medication, its effects on breastfeeding and infant health are of paramount concern to nursing mothers.
Safety Profile During Lactation
Research indicates that trazodone is excreted in breast milk, but the concentration is generally low. According to a study published in the journal *Breastfeeding Medicine*, the amount of trazodone in breast milk is typically less than 1% of the maternal dose. This suggests that the exposure to the infant through breastfeeding is minimal.
However, the effects on infants are not thoroughly understood, and there have been reports of potential side effects, including sedation and irritability. It’s crucial for mothers to monitor their infants for any unusual behavior, especially in the early weeks after starting trazodone.
Clinical Recommendations
Health professionals often weigh the risks and benefits when advising mothers on the use of trazodone during breastfeeding. While trazodone is not classified as contraindicated for breastfeeding, healthcare providers typically recommend the following:
– Consult Your Healthcare Provider: Always discuss any medications with your doctor or a lactation consultant. They can provide personalized advice based on your health history and the specific circumstances of your breastfeeding journey.

– Monitor Your Infant: If you decide to continue breastfeeding while taking trazodone, keep a close eye on your baby for any signs of drowsiness, feeding difficulties, or developmental changes.
– Consider Timing: Some mothers find it helpful to take the medication immediately after breastfeeding, allowing time for the medication to metabolize before the next feeding.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while breastfeeding while taking trazodone is generally considered safe, it is essential for mothers to remain vigilant and informed. Collaborating with healthcare providers ensures that both maternal mental health and infant safety are prioritized. Every mother’s situation is unique, and what works for one may not be suitable for another. Therefore, open communication with healthcare professionals is key to navigating this complex issue.

How long does trazodone stay in your system?

Official answer. After a single dose in a healthy adult, trazodone will be mostly out of your system in one to three days. For trazodone the half-life is approximately 5 to 13 hours. This means that every 5 to 13 hours, the level in your blood will drop by 50 percent.

Can you give trazodone to a pregnant mare?

Trazodone: This medication can help manage anxiety in pregnant mares, allowing them to remain calm and relaxed. Diazepam: Can also be used to reduce anxiety.

Does trazodone reduce fertility?

Discussion. According to our study results, which we performed independently of other risk factors related to reproductive toxicity, TRZ administration decreased sperm concentration, motility, and normal sperm morphology, increased sperm DNA damage, and induced degeneration of testicular structure.

Is it safe to take trazodone while breastfeeding?

Trazodone and breastfeeding
If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take trazodone while breastfeeding. Trazodone passes into breast milk in very small amounts, and has not been linked with any side effects in breastfed babies. It’s important to continue taking trazodone to keep you well.

Is trazodone safe for babies?

This drug is not approved for use in children. However, the doctor may decide the benefits of taking this drug outweigh the risks. If your child has been given this drug, ask the doctor for information about the benefits and risks.

Why is trazodone not recommended for sleep?

Insomnia without depression: Because there’s so little supporting evidence, treatment guidelines by the AASM don’t recommend trazodone for the treatment of chronic insomnia. Still, trazodone may improve insomnia symptoms initially, as found in one small study, but this effect could fade after a few weeks.

What sleep medications are safe for breastfeeding?

However, the ‘z- drugs’ (zolpidem and zopiclone) are preferred for the short-term management of insomnia during breastfeeding, as they have shorter half-lives than the benzodiazepines and appear to pass into breast milk in small amounts. Melatonin can also be used in breastfeeding with caution.

Will trazodone affect my unborn baby?

Trazodone can potentially cause short-term withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby if taken in the weeks before delivery. For this reason, a baby may be monitored for some time after birth to check for symptoms such as jitteriness, difficulty sleeping and breathing problems.

Can a nursing dog have trazodone?

Considered to be somewhat safe to use during pregnancy and lactation. Studies in laboratory animals have shown an increase in fetal death. Although trazodone is secreted in low levels, it’s thought to be unlikely to have effects on nursing offspring.

Who should avoid trazodone?

have epilepsy or are having electroconvulsive treatment – trazodone may increase your risk of having a seizure. are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding. have porphyria, a rare disorder. have phaeochromocytoma, a condition that affects the adrenal glands.

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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