Drugs Contraindicated During Lactation

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All drugs of abuse are contraindicated during lactation e.g. amphetamine, cocaine, heroin, phecyclidine and marijuana, accumulate in breast milk and cause irritability and poor sleep patterns.

• Antineoplastics: potential for immune suppression
• Bromocriptine: suppresses lactation
• Ergotamine: potential for suppressing lactation, vomiting, diarrhoea and convulsions
• Immunosuppressants: potential for immunosuppression
• Lithium: milk contains 40% of maternal serum concentration
• Misoprostol: produces severe diarrhoea in infants
• Nicotine (smoking): decreased milk production
• Phenindione:massive scrotal haematoma and wound oozing after herniotomy

Drugs requiring temporary cessation of breast-feeding
• Metronidazole: diarrhoea and secondary lactose intolerance.
• Radiopharmaceuticals:Stop breastfeeding temporarily to allow clearing from milk according to the chemical nature of the isotope.
• Quinolones: potential arthropathy in infants.