Medications

No one wants a baby to be harmed because of a medication needed by the mother. Therefore many doctors are apt to recommend that you wean if you need a medication whose safety for your baby is suspect.

Testing of drugs on breastfeeding women is unethical, and therefore many drugs that may in fact be safe have not been properly evaluated. Drug manufacturers often discourage use of drugs by breastfeeding mothers or recommend that mothers discuss the drug with their physician rather than making a solid statement of safety.

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For drugs considered unsafe, you may be able to find an alternative drug or even delay treatment until you are no longer breastfeeding. However, this is not always the case.

This section will discuss some of the most common (and most commonly asked about) medications. It is a work in progress, so check back often as more medications are added to the discussion.

Always discuss your medication concerns directly with your healthcare provider. DO NOT start or stop taking a medication because of something you read here without first discussing it with your doctor.