What anxiety meds are safe to take while breastfeeding?

Understanding Anxiety Medications During Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding mothers often face the challenge of managing anxiety while ensuring the safety of their infants. The good news is that several anxiety medications are considered safe for use during breastfeeding, allowing mothers to maintain their mental health without compromising their baby’s well-being.
Safe Medications for Breastfeeding Mothers
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most studied and commonly prescribed medications for anxiety and depression in breastfeeding mothers. Medications like sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram (Celexa) have been shown to have low levels in breast milk, making them relatively safe options. Sertraline, for instance, has a relative infant dose (RID) of only 0.4% to 2.2%, which means that the amount transferred to breast milk is minimal, and adverse effects in infants are rare.
In addition to SSRIs, short-term benzodiazepines such as lorazepam and diazepam may be prescribed for acute anxiety episodes. However, these should be used cautiously and typically for short durations, as they can have sedative effects on both the mother and the infant.
Monitoring and Consultation
While many antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are deemed safe, it is crucial for breastfeeding mothers to consult with their healthcare providers. This ensures that the chosen medication aligns with their specific health needs and that any potential side effects are monitored. Most antidepressants are found at very low or undetectable levels in infant serum, with few observed side effects in infants, making it generally safe for breastfeeding mothers to use these medications under medical supervision.
The Importance of Mental Health
Managing anxiety is vital for the overall well-being of both the mother and the child. Untreated anxiety can lead to significant distress and may affect a mother’s ability to care for her infant. Therefore, it is essential to strike a balance between effective treatment and safety during breastfeeding.
In conclusion, while there are safe options available for managing anxiety during breastfeeding, it is imperative for mothers to engage in open discussions with their healthcare providers to tailor a treatment plan that prioritizes both their mental health and their baby’s safety.

Can I breastfeed on Lexapro?

The study shows that escitalopram is safe for use during breastfeeding. Because its absolute infant dose is lower than that for an equivalent antidepressant dose of rac-citalopram, it may be preferred over rac-citalopram in treating depression in lactating women.

Is Zoloft safe while breastfeeding?

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.

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 antidepressants are not affecting breast milk?

In terms of selecting an appropriate antidepressant, one should try to choose an antidepressant for which there are data to support its safety during breastfeeding (i.e., sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, tricyclic antidepressants).

Is Zoloft better than Prozac for breastfeeding?

Finally, when taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding, there may be an increased risk for congenital disabilities associated with using Prozac compared to other SSRIs. Taking Zoloft during pregnancy tends to be the safest antidepressant option.

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 anxiety medication can I 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 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 medication is used for anxiety in nursing?

Anxiolytics Nursing Interventions

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

What is the safest SSRI for 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. However, they all have relatively long half-lives.