You may be one of the many people who is wondering if it is safe to take medication while breastfeeding.  You need to seek the okay of your health care provider before taking any drug while breastfeeding. Most medications are safe to take during breastfeeding  but a few may have serious side effects on your baby. Your doctor is the best person to give you an up to date information about which drugs are safe to take while nursing.

What is the effect of mediations on breastfeeding baby ?

The amount of medication that gets in breast milk and it’s effect on the on the baby  depends on the type of medication, the dose and how the medication is taken.

Drugs  can cause the following side effects on babies who are being nursed.

• diarrhea
• vomiting
•  sleepiness
• irritability
• excessive crying
• skin rashes
• loss of appetite

Some medications  may also reduce milk supply which can result in poor weight gain in babies.

It is important to take drugs  only when it’s absolutely necessary while breastfeeding. Stick to the lowest dose possible.  You should also use short – acting drugs rather than long – acting varieties. It is best to take short acting immediately after nursing your baby. Long acting varieties should be taken after the baby’s last evening feeding or before his longest sleep period.

Which medications are safe to take during breastfeeding  ?

Here is a list of some of the medications that are considered safe during breastfeeding. This is not a comprehensive list . You should always seek your doctor’s input before taking any medications during breastfeeding.

Pain relievers

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others)
• Naproxen (Naprosyn®) — short-term use only

Antimicrobial medications

• Fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Miconazole (Monistat 3) — apply minimal amount
• Clotrimazole (Mycelex, ) — apply minimal amount
• Penicillins (amoxicillin, ampicillin, others)
• Cephalosporins (Keflex)

Antihistamines

• Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert, others)
• Fexofenadine (Allegra)

Decongestants

• Medications containing pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Zyrtec D, others) — use with caution because pseudoephedrine can decrease milk supply

Birth control pills

• Progestin-only contraceptives, such as the minipill

Gastrointestinal medications

• Famotidine (Pepcid)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet HB)

Antidepressants

• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox)

Constipation medications

• Docusate sodium (Colace)

Source : Mayo Foundation

NOTE

You need to always seek the okay of your doctor before taking any medications while nursing.  If you are taking any drugs, watch your child for any unusual signs and symptoms such as fussiness, diarrhea, change in sleeping and eating habit.