Medications safe to use while breastfeedingCheck with your doctor, of course, but here is a list of meds approved by the AAP for Breastfeeding mothers. It's a selected list, I'm including those meds that are regarded to be the safest to use, unless otherwise indicated. Many more drugs are AAP-approved, but have a "moderately safe" rating as opposed to a "safer" or "very safe" rating for lactation risk.
Pain:
Pain Ibuprofen (Motrin)
Morphine
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Aleve) – recommended for chronic use (moderately safe)
Morhphine (moderately safe)
Depression:
Sertraline (Zoloft)
Paroxetine (Paxil)
Asthma:
Cromolyn (Intal)
Nedocromil (Tilade)
Contraception:
Barrier methods
Antibiotics:
Amoxicillin (Larotid, Amoxil)
Aztreonam (Azactam)
Cefadroxil (Ultracef, Duricef)
Cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol)
Cefotaxime (Claforan)
Cefoxitin (Mefoxin)
Ceftazidime (Ceftazidime, Fortaz, Taxidime)
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
Erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-tab, ERYC, Ilosone) [less safe for early postnatal]
Moxalactam (Moxam)
Penicillin
Sulbactam
Ticarcillin (Ticarcillin, Ticar, Timentin)
Antihistimine:
Loratadine (Claritin)
Cough/cold:
Many forms of Robitussin, Delsym and Benylin are ok – check active ingredients and consult your doctor
Dextromethorphan (not reviewed by the AAP but considered very safe)
Guaifenesin (also not reviewed by the AAP but considered fairly safe)
Codeine (AAP approved and considered moderately safe)
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed, Halofed, Novafed, Actifed) – AAP approved for chronic use (moderately safe)
Galactagogues (milk supply)
Domperidone
Thyroid meds:
Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levothroid, Thyroid, Levo-T, Levoxyl)
Compiled from:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010701/119.htmlhttp://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/3/776/T6http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.html You can also look at motherisk.org, a Canadian website with up to date information on medications and drugs for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
