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Breastfeeding and medications: What's safe?
Do all medications pass into breast milk?
Does my baby's health and age influence how he or she might be affected by exposure to medication in my breast milk?
Should I stop breast-feeding while taking medication?
What medications are safe to take while breast-feeding?
Content
Do all medicines pass into breast milk?
Do infants' health and age affect how medicines in breast milk may affect them?
Should I stop breastfeeding while taking medicine?
What medicines are safe to take while breastfeeding?
Pain relievers
Antimicrobial medications
Nasal allergy medicines
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Birth control
Digestive medicines
Medicines for depression or anxiety
Constipation medicines
Do I need my health care provider's OK ahead of time?
What if my baby has a reaction?
Does my baby's health and age influence how he or she might be affected by exposure to medication in my breast milk?
Should I stop breast-feeding while taking medication?
What medications are safe to take while breast-feeding?
Content
Do all medicines pass into breast milk?
Do infants' health and age affect how medicines in breast milk may affect them?
Should I stop breastfeeding while taking medicine?
What medicines are safe to take while breastfeeding?
Pain relievers
Antimicrobial medications
Nasal allergy medicines
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Birth control
Digestive medicines
Medicines for depression or anxiety
Constipation medicines
Do I need my health care provider's OK ahead of time?
What if my baby has a reaction?
Birth control
- Intrauterine contraceptives levonorgestrel (Mirena, Liletta, others) and copper (Miudella, Paragard, others).
- Contraceptive implant etonogestrel (Nexplanon).
- Progestin-only contraceptive pills also called minipills: norgestrel (Opill), norethindrone (Errin, Nor-QD, others).
Researchers don't have a final answer about whether combination contraceptives containing estrogen and progestin affect milk production. Talk with your healthcare professional before taking this type of birth control while breastfeeding.
