What anxiety medication is safe while breastfeeding?

Understanding Anxiety Medication Safety During Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding mothers often face the challenge of managing anxiety while ensuring the safety of their infants. The decision to use medication for anxiety during this period requires careful consideration of both the mother’s mental health and the potential effects on the breastfeeding child.
Preferred Medications
Among the various options available, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently recommended for breastfeeding mothers. Sertraline, commonly known by its brand name Zoloft, is particularly favored due to its safety profile. Studies indicate that sertraline has a low relative infant dose (RID) of 0.4% to 2.2%, meaning that only a small amount of the medication passes into breast milk. This low transfer rate suggests that it is unlikely to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants, making it a suitable choice for managing anxiety and postpartum depression.
Another medication that has shown promise is lorazepam. This benzodiazepine is noted for its low levels in breast milk and a short half-life, which minimizes the risk of accumulation in the infant’s system. Evidence suggests that lorazepam does not lead to adverse effects in breastfed infants when taken at standard maternal dosages.
Other Considerations
While SSRIs and lorazepam are among the safer options, other medications may also be considered. Propranolol, a beta-blocker often used for anxiety, is sometimes prescribed as well. However, the use of benzodiazepines like diazepam should generally be limited to short-term use due to potential risks associated with longer exposure.
It’s essential for mothers to consult with healthcare providers to tailor treatment plans that address their specific needs while considering the safety of their breastfeeding infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization have provided guidelines indicating that certain medications, including valproic acid and carbamazepine, may also be safe during breastfeeding, although these are less commonly used for anxiety.
Monitoring and Support
Regardless of the medication chosen, monitoring the infant for any signs of adverse reactions is crucial. Symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea should be observed, although these are unlikely with the medications mentioned.
In conclusion, while managing anxiety during breastfeeding can be complex, medications like sertraline and lorazepam offer safe options for mothers. Open communication with healthcare providers is vital to ensure both maternal mental health and infant safety are prioritized.

What medication is best for postpartum anxiety?

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are the most widely used and most researched medication for postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression.

What to do for anxiety while breastfeeding?

Self-care is crucial for nursing moms’ mental health. Accortt encourages active relaxation, such as deep breathing, gentle yoga poses or a grounding meditation, before each breastfeeding shift. These techniques power down the body’s fight-or-flight instinct, lowering the stress hormone cortisol.

What can I take for severe anxiety while pregnant?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after delivery.

Does Zoloft impact milk supply?

Also, a small study of 6 patients using Zoloft found a slight decrease in milk production as a result. However, this is generally correctable with increased feeds or pumping between feeds. And there is a small risk of serious side effects that you shouldn’t ignore.

What medication is used for anxiety in nursing?

Anxiolytics Nursing Interventions

• Lorazepam.
• Diazepam.
• Alprazolam.
• Clonazepam.

Can you pass anxiety through breast milk?

In line with the fetal programming hypothesis, it might be argued that, when the environment is stressful, mothers could physiologically signal this information to their infants via breast milk cortisol, and infants could subsequently adjust their behavioral phenotype to their (future) environment.

What anxiety medications can you 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.

What is the safest antidepressant to take while breastfeeding?

Paroxetine and sertraline are the SSRIs of choice during breastfeeding. More evidence is available on the use of SSRIs during breastfeeding than other antidepressant groups and limited data show encouraging outcomes when considering longer term effects on infants.

What can they give you for anxiety during birth?

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” is a tasteless and odorless gas used as a labor analgesic by some hospitals. It reduces anxiety and increases a feeling of well-being so that pain is easier to deal with.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for anxiety?

What Is the 333 Rule for Anxiety? You can use the 333 rule for anxiety in the moment something triggers you. Just look around to identify 3 objects and 3 sounds, then move 3 body parts. Many people find this strategy helps focus and ground them when anxiety seems overwhelming.