Track your baby’s most exciting moments with our milestone checklist. Therefore, caution should be exercised when considering the administration of IMITREX Tablets to a nursing woman." One good source of information concerning drugs and breastfeeding is the AAP policy statement on The Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals Into Human Milk. It is even available as an app that you can carry around on your smartphone. I took ibuprofen, in the lowest dose, while breastfeeding. A little more searching though, and you find many references that indicate that it is likely safe to breastfeed and take Imitrex. Nonetheless, before your doctor prescribes a medication for you, make sure he or she knows that you are breastfeeding. Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The short answer is – it depends on the medication.If you are planning on, or currently are, breastfeeding and need to take a prescription medication, you probably wonder whether the medication could harm your baby. If this is not possible, wait for 6–8 weeks, until breastfeeding is firmly established. In some cases, a less-safe medication can safely be discontinued while a mom is breastfeeding, and in others, it's possible to find a safer substitute. If you are still concerned, this advice, also from the AAP might also help decrease any possible risks to your baby. There is iTune app or Android app for checking out any known side-effects of any medications while breastfeeding. The LactMed Drugs and Lactation Database, a "peer-reviewed and fully referenced database of drugs to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed," is another great reference to help figure out if a medicine is safe to take while breastfeeding. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Melody is passionate about promoting science, including evidence-based medicine, and debunking pseudoscience. Prescription medications and breastfeedingThere are few medications which preclude breastfeeding. When medication that isn't compatible with breastfeeding is needed short-term, nursing can be stopped temporarily (with breasts pumped and milk tossed — a.k.a. It includes prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, including Imitrex (sumatriptan). Another factor to consider is the amount of milk your breasts are making. If your doctor is unsure whether or not you can breastfeed safely while taking a particular medication, ask that they check with drug information experts. An understanding of the principles underlying the transfer into breast milk is important, as is an awareness of the potential adverse effects on the infant. The LactMed Drugs and Lactation Database, a "peer-reviewed and fully referenced database of drugs to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed," is another great reference to help figure out if a medicine is safe to take while breastfeeding. In the first few days after birth, most women will produce a limited volume of milk and women who breastfeed for more than one year tend to produce a smaller volume of milk.Although most medications are safe to use while breastfeeding, you should always discuss them with your healthcare provider. Melody Watson holds Bachelors degrees in Biochemistry and Microbiology. Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reservedSituations Where Pumping and Dumping Breast Milk Is NecessaryHow to Use Alfalfa to Increase Your Breast Milk SupplyIs It Safe to Take Codeine While Breastfeeding Your Baby?The Reasons Some Women Can't or Shouldn't BreastfeedHow to Successfully Breastfeed and Overcome ChallengesCan You Breastfeed If You Have An Overactive Thyroid?How Sudden Weaning Can Harm Both the Mother and ChildMake Changes in Your Life If You Notice a Decrease in Breast Milk SupplyAvoiding Medicine That May Cause a Drop in Breast Milk Supply According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 'Most drugs likely to be prescribed to the nursing mother should have no effect on milk supply or on infant well-being.' "pump and dump"). Is It Safe To Take A Medication While I Breastfeed? If you are prescribed Imitrex, for instance, the PDR states that "Sumatriptan is excreted in human breast milk. Most medications present in your blood will also be present, to some degree, in your breast milk. 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