What drugs pass through breast milk?

Understanding Drug Transfer Through Breast Milk
The transfer of drugs into breast milk is a complex process influenced by various factors, including the drug’s chemical properties and the mother’s physiology. While many medications are considered safe for breastfeeding mothers, understanding which drugs can pass into breast milk and their potential effects on infants is crucial for new mothers.
How Drugs Enter Breast Milk
Most drugs can be excreted into breast milk to some extent. The degree of transfer is influenced by several factors:
– Chemical Properties: Drugs that are lipid-soluble, have low molecular weight, and are not highly protein-bound tend to pass more easily into breast milk. Conversely, larger molecules, such as insulin and heparin, typically do not cross into breast milk due to their size.
– Ionization: The pH of the drug and the pH of breast milk can affect how much of the drug is excreted. Weakly basic drugs, for example, may concentrate in breast milk due to specialized transport systems that “pump” these substances into the milk.
Commonly Used Medications
Research indicates that most commonly used medications are relatively safe for breastfeeding infants. The amount of drug that an infant receives through breast milk is generally much lower than the doses that would be administered directly to neonates or infants. For instance, antibiotics like penicillins and cephalosporins are often recommended for breastfeeding mothers, provided there is no maternal allergy to these medications.
However, certain drugs are contraindicated during breastfeeding. For example, psychoactive drugs can be excreted into breast milk, and their effects on infants are a concern. Additionally, substances like alcohol and nicotine can also pass into breast milk, and mothers are advised to limit their intake of these substances.
Recommendations for Breastfeeding Mothers
Healthcare professionals often recommend that breastfeeding mothers avoid certain medications or substances that could harm their infants. For instance, mothers are advised to limit caffeine intake to no more than three cups of coffee per day and to avoid illicit drugs. If a mother must take a medication that poses a risk to her baby, she may need to temporarily stop breastfeeding.
Conclusion
In summary, while many medications can pass through breast milk, the actual risk to infants varies widely depending on the specific drug and its properties. Most commonly used medications are safe, but mothers should always consult healthcare providers regarding any medications they are taking while breastfeeding. This ensures both the health of the mother and the safety of the infant during this critical period.

How long do drugs stay in breastmilk?

A breastfeeding plan
If you do use drugs such as amphetamines or heroin as a one-off, you will need to express your breast milk in the 24 hours afterwards and throw it away before you breastfeed again. After using drugs, it is not safe for you to care for or breastfeed your baby.

What drugs cross into breast milk?

Most drug molecules, including alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, are small enough to enter milk. Exceptions are drugs with high molecular weights such as heparins and insulin.

What are unsafe drugs in breastfeeding?

ANSWER: Only a few drugs pose a clinically significant risk to breastfed babies. In general, antineoplastics, drugs of abuse, some anticonvulsants, ergot alkaloids, and radiopharmaceuticals should not be taken, and levels of amiodarone, cyclosporine, and lithium should be monitored.

Which drugs cannot be taken when breastfeeding?

ANSWER: Only a few drugs pose a clinically significant risk to breastfed babies. In general, antineoplastics, drugs of abuse, some anticonvulsants, ergot alkaloids, and radiopharmaceuticals should not be taken, and levels of amiodarone, cyclosporine, and lithium should be monitored.

Can anything be passed through breast milk?

Infectious organisms can reach the breast milk either by secretion in the fluid or cellular components of breast milk or by contamination of the milk at the time of or after expression.

What drugs can pass through a mother’s breast milk and harm a nursing baby?

Drugs that may have an adverse effect when ingested by a breastfed infant include cyclophosphamide, chloramphenicol, metronidazole, nitrofurantoin, antithyroid drugs, psychotropic drugs, and radiopharmaceuticals.

What substances can pass through breast milk?

A woman’s lifestyle may affect her breast milk, and have an impact on the baby. During breastfeeding, it is important for a woman not to consume alcohol, smoke, or take drugs. These substances are known to pass through the breast milk.

What transfers through breast milk?

Almost any drug that’s present in the blood will transfer into breast milk to some extent. Most medications do so at low levels and pose no real risk to most infants. There are exceptions, though. Some drugs can be found in high levels in breast milk.

What happens if you breastfeed with drugs in your system?

There is still a lot we don’t know about the effects of drugs on your baby when you are breastfeeding but it’s thought that, even at low levels, taking drugs is likely to: make your baby drowsy, feed poorly and have disturbed sleep patterns and poor weight gain. cause behavioural problems.

Which drugs are excreted through breast milk?

• analgesics and antipyretics: short courses of paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen;
• antibiotics: ampicillin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin and other penicillins, erythromycin.
• bronchodilators (e.g. salbutamol), corticosteroids, antihistamines, antacids.