Safe Medications While Breastfeeding
Dec 20, 2021
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If you are breastfeeding and you need to take medication, you might have questions about the possible impact both on your milk production and your baby. Here’s what you need to know about which over-the-counter and prescription medications are safe to take
If you are breastfeeding and you need to take medication, you might have questions about the possible impact both on your milk production and your baby. Here’s what you need to know about which over-the-counter and prescription medications are safe to take.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list. Items with an * may cause decreased milk production.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Acne:
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Salicylic Acid
Allergies / Anti-histamines
- Afrin
- Allegra*
- Benadryl*
- Claritin*
- Flonase
- Nasacort
- Plain Saline
- Zyrtec*
Antifungals
- Lotrimin
- Miconazole 3 or 7 (Monistat)
Cold/Nasal Congestion and Cough
- Emergen-C
- Ocean Nasal Spray
- Sudafed*
- Throat Lozenges
Constipation
- Citrucel
- Colace (Docusate Sodium)
- Metamucil or Wafer
- Milk of Magnesia
- MiraLAX
- Senna-S
- Senokot
Diarrhea / Gas
- Imodium
- Simethicone
Heartburn
- Famotidine (Pepcid)
- Maalox
- Mylanta
- Omeprazole (Prilosec)
- Ranitidine (Zantac)
- TUMS
Hemorrhoids
- Anusol HC or Plain
- Preparation H
- TUCKS Pads
Pain
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
Skin
- Aveeno Oatmeal Bath
- Calamine
- Hydrocortisone 1% cream
Prescription Medications
Antidepressants / Antianxiety
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Imipramine
- Nortriptyline
- Paxil (Paroxetine)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Trazodone
Antifungals
- Fluconazole (Diflucan)
- Nystatin
Antibiotics
- Augmentin
- Azithromycin
- Cephalexin
- Dicloxacillin
- Erythromycin
- Keflex
- Macrobid
- Metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Metronidazole Vaginal (Metrogel)
- Penicillin (and all Penicillin family)
Antivirals
- Acyclovir
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
- Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
- Zovirax