UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service
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| What's New?
The database is currently being populated with data on common drugs used in lactation. Its aim is to include all drugs in the BNF.
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Risk classification
The compatibility of drugs with breastfeeding has been assessed through a combination of risk to the breastfed infant and the quality/volume of evidence available. Drugs have been assigned to one of three categories which are defined as:
NO
- Serious adverse effects have been reported, or are considered possible, in a breastfed infant.
- Lactation could be compromised because of an impact on milk production.
CAUTION
- Minor and/or reversible adverse effects have been reported, or are considered possible, in breastfed infants, but which are not considered to pose an unacceptable risk to the infant.
- Insufficient evidence of the amount of drug excreted into breast milk.
- Insufficient evidence, or experience of use in practice, to guarantee safe use with breastfeeding.
- Use of a medicine is conditional on risk-reducing actions being taken, e.g monitoring the infant, delaying breastfeeding after a maternal dose, using a lower-risk formulation etc.
YES
- Levels in milk are sufficiently low, or predicted to be low, because of the drug’s properties to present any risk to the infant.
- Substantial clinical experience of the drug has not indicated any risks.
- The medicine is in clinical use in young infants at doses significantly exceeding those which would be ingested through breast milk.
SEEK ADVICE
- Use of this drug in breastfeeding mothers involves complex factors which can normally only be addressed by obtaining expert advice.
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| Drugs in Lactation ()