What drugs stay in breastmilk?

Understanding Drug Transfer into Breast Milk
Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal way to nourish infants, but many new mothers often wonder about the implications of medication use during this period. The transfer of drugs into breast milk is a complex process influenced by various factors, including the drug’s properties and the mother’s physiology.
How Drugs Enter Breast Milk
Most medications that a breastfeeding mother takes can enter her breast milk, but typically in very small amounts. The extent of this transfer is largely determined by the drug’s molecular characteristics. Drugs that are highly protein-bound, have large molecular weights, or are poorly lipid-soluble tend to have limited transfer into breast milk. Conversely, drugs that are freely soluble in plasma and not bound to proteins are more likely to appear in breast milk .
Research indicates that, in general, less than 1% of a drug administered to a mother will pass into her breast milk. This means that while some drugs do transfer, the amounts are usually much lower than the doses considered safe for infants if administered directly.
Commonly Used Medications
Most commonly used medications are deemed relatively safe for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. The doses that infants receive through breast milk are generally much smaller than the known safe doses for direct administration to neonates and infants. Health professionals often evaluate the safety of drug transfer during the peripartum period and postpartum hospitalization, providing guidance for mothers who may need medication while breastfeeding.
Risks and Considerations
While many medications are safe, some substances can pose risks to breastfeeding infants. For instance, certain drugs, particularly those that are highly lipid-soluble or have a low molecular weight, may transfer more readily into breast milk. This includes substances like LSD, which is known to cross the blood-brain barrier easily and is contraindicated during breastfeeding due to the lack of data on its transfer into milk.
Health professionals recommend that mothers consult with their healthcare providers to assess the safety of any medications they may need while breastfeeding. This is crucial for ensuring both the mother’s health and the infant’s safety.
Conclusion
In summary, while many drugs can enter breast milk, the amounts are typically small and often considered safe for breastfeeding infants. However, the specific characteristics of each drug play a significant role in determining its transfer into milk. Mothers should always seek professional advice regarding medication use during breastfeeding to ensure the well-being of both themselves and their babies.

What can be transferred through breast milk?

Serious Illnesses and Breastfeeding

• COVID-19. A parent who tests positive for COVID-19 can breastfeed their infant.
• HIV.
• Hepatitis B.
• Hepatitis C.
• Tuberculosis.
• Other infections.
• Cancer.
• More information.

Which is not excreted in breast milk?

Insulin is not excreted into breast milk and is considered safe for use during breast-feeding.

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.

Should I stop breastfeeding if I vape?

Mothers who use tobacco or e-cigarettes can breastfeed their infants but should be encouraged to quit. If they are unable to quit, breastfeeding still provides numerous health benefits, and breast milk remains the recommended food for an infant.

Can anything be transmitted through breast milk?

In most maternal viral infections, breast milk is not an important mode of transmission, and continuation of breastfeeding is in the best interest of the infant and mother (see Tables 2 and 3). Maternal bacterial infections rarely are complicated by transmission of infection to their infants through breast milk.

What drugs can be passed through 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.

How long does oxycodone stay in breastmilk?

Conclusions: Oxycodone is concentrated in human breast milk up to 72-h post-partum. Breastfed infants may receive > 10% of a therapeutic infant dose. However, maternal oxycodone intake up to 72-h post-CS poses only minimal risk to the breast-feeding infant as low volumes of breast milk are ingested during this period.

What passes through breast milk to a baby?

Foods and drinks to avoid while breastfeeding
Caffeine passes into breastmilk, so large amounts of tea, coffee and cola drinks are best avoided. Drinking small amounts of drinks with caffeine (3 or less drinks a day) should not be a problem. Alcohol also passes into breastmilk and can affect your baby.

Can breast milk be checked for drugs?

Human milk has a narrow detection window (a few hours to 1 day) for common toxic substances such as nicotine, cotinine, caffeine, cocaine, heroin, and morphine.

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.