Should you avoid breastfeeding if you are on antidepressants?

The Intersection of Antidepressants and Breastfeeding: What You Need to Know
Breastfeeding is often heralded as the best nutritional choice for infants, but for mothers dealing with mental health issues, the decision can become complicated, especially when antidepressants are involved. The question arises: should mothers avoid breastfeeding if they are on antidepressants?
Understanding Antidepressants and Their Effects
Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to manage conditions such as postpartum depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. The concern for breastfeeding mothers is whether these medications can adversely affect their infants through breast milk. Research indicates that the transfer of antidepressants into breast milk is generally low to very low. For instance, medications like sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil) have been found to be among the safest options for breastfeeding mothers, with minimal exposure to infants.
Safety Considerations
Experts suggest that when antidepressant treatment is necessary for a mother’s mental health, discontinuing breastfeeding is not typically advised. The benefits of breastfeeding, including bonding and nutritional advantages, often outweigh the potential risks associated with low levels of medication in breast milk. The relative infant dose, which measures how much of the drug an infant receives through breast milk compared to the mother’s dosage, is a critical factor. A dose of less than 10% of the maternal weight-adjusted dose is generally considered safe.
Choosing the Right Medication
Not all antidepressants are created equal when it comes to breastfeeding. Mothers are encouraged to discuss their medication options with healthcare providers to select those with the most supportive safety data. Fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil) are among the medications with the most research backing their safety during breastfeeding.
Monitoring and Support
While breastfeeding on antidepressants is often deemed safe, it is essential for mothers to monitor their infants for any potential side effects. If any concerns arise, such as unusual lethargy or feeding difficulties, mothers should consult their healthcare provider immediately. Additionally, support systems, including mental health professionals and lactation consultants, can provide guidance tailored to individual circumstances.
Conclusion
In summary, breastfeeding while on antidepressants is generally considered safe, particularly with medications that have established safety profiles. The decision should always involve a thorough discussion with healthcare providers, weighing the benefits of breastfeeding against the mother’s mental health needs. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure both the mother and infant thrive during this critical period.

How much antidepressant gets into breast milk?

Significant published evidence shows that fluoxetine passes into breast milk in variable amounts (ranging from 0.54%–10.8% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose) with maternal doses of up to 80mg daily. Some single case reports describe much higher levels; up to 20% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose.

What medications should be avoided while breastfeeding?

Common medicines that are not recommended when you’re breastfeeding include:

• codeine phosphate.
• decongestants that come as tablets, liquids or powders that you swallow.
• some nasal decongestants that come as nose sprays or drops – check with a GP or pharmacist before using them.
• aspirin for pain relief.

What is not recommended for breastfeeding?

Medical Contraindications for Breastfeeding
There are a few medical contraindications to breastfeeding, and these include: An infant who has the metabolic disorder of classic galactosemia (galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency). A mother living with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I or type II.

What is the best anxiety medication to take while breastfeeding?

Safe medication in breastfeeding
They include, in no particular order: SSRI antidepressants e.g. sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine all have anti- anxiety activity. They take 4 to 6 weeks to exert full benefit. Tri-cyclic antidepressants e.g. amitriptyline, imipramine.

Can I breastfeed while on antidepressants?

Antidepressants while breastfeeding
It may be safe to take antidepressant medications while breastfeeding. Although many medications pass into breast milk, most have little or no effect on milk supply or infant well-being.

Is it OK to breastfeed while on Zoloft?

Zoloft is considered one of the safest antidepressants to take while breastfeeding. Paxil, Pamelor, and Tofranil are also recommended options. Prozac, Celexa, and Effexor may be connected to more possible short-term side effects, but if they’ve worked for you in the past, they might still be worth considering.

Do antidepressants affect having a baby?

Our study found lower fecundability in cycles in which a woman took an antidepressant. This finding was statistically significant after adjusting for history of anxiety or depression or restricting the analysis to those that reported a history of anxiety or depression.

What is the safest antidepressant for pregnancy?

In general, these antidepressants are options during pregnancy: Certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs usually are an option during pregnancy. These include citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft), escitalopram (Lexapro) and fluoxetine (Prozac).

What anti anxiety medication is safe while breastfeeding?

Sertraline and paroxetine (among SSRIs) and nortriptyline and imipramine (among TCAs) are the most evidence-based medications for use during breastfeeding because of similar findings across multiple laboratories, usually undetectable infant serum levels and no reports of short term adverse events.

How long should you be off antidepressants before getting pregnant?

If the consensus is that you should wean yourself off your meds or try different kinds, start at least three months before you start trying to conceive so you’ve got plenty of time to see how it goes.