All content
Monthly MUS Webex – Medicines use and Breastfeeding – what you need to know
12 May 2021This month we addressed the topic of medicine use in women who are breastfeeding, including a discussion around COVID-19 vaccination during breastfeeding. In this webinar…
Using COVID-19 vaccines in breastfeeding women
5 January 2021Information concerning COVID-19 vaccination in breastfeeding women
Why breastfeeding is important and how pharmacy can help
4 December 2020Registered pharmacy professionals have a role in ensuring breastfeeding can continue whilst medicines are used
Advising on medicines regimens during breastfeeding
4 December 2020Most medicines can be used throughout breastfeeding, in some cases further risk-reducing methods may be required highlighted here
Questions to ask when giving advice on medicines and breastfeeding
4 December 2020Information should be gathered on both the mother and the infant. Questions are provided to help determine clinical details.
Information products that give advice on medicines and breastfeeding
4 December 2020SPS and other resources can help pharmacy professionals give advice on use of medicines during breastfeeding.
Safety in Lactation: Sympathomimetics for acute cardiac conditions
4 November 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Dobutamine, dopamine and dopexamine are inotropes…
Can mothers breastfeed after a medical termination of pregnancy?
30 October 2020This updated Medicines Q&A evaluates the available evidence for the safety of mifepristone and misoprostol in breast feeding women. Summary There will be occasions when…
Can low dose aspirin be used in breastfeeding mothers as an antiplatelet agent?
29 October 2020Limited data and pharmacokinetics indicate that low dose aspirin (defined here as 75 – 150mg daily) passes into breast milk in small amounts. There…
Emergency contraception and breast-feeding
28 October 2020It is possible for a woman to get pregnant again very soon after the birth of a baby, even if breastfeeding, and even if periods…
Safety in Lactation: Topical nasal decongestants
27 October 2020Drugs used for nasal decongestion have limited systemic absorption in the mother, and pose negligible risk to a breastfed infant. There is no published evidence…
UKDILAS: General Principles for Medicine Use during Breastfeeding
22 October 2020A robust assessment of the balance of benefit to risk requires data both on the drug’s passage into breast milk and its effects in infants.…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs used for angina
21 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Anti-anginal nitrates Nitrates are indicated for…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for ADHD
21 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. The use of drugs for attention…
Safety in Lactation: Diuretics
21 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Thiazides and related diuretics (includes bendroflumethiazide,…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for bipolar disorder and hypomania
21 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Whilst valproate (valproic acid/sodium valproate) is…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for sleeping disorders
21 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Hypnotics Use of hypnotic agents in…
Safety in Lactation: Anxiolytics.
21 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Use of anxiolytics in breastfeeding mothers…
Safety in Lactation: Antidepressants
21 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Monamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) Due to the…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for rectal and anal disorders
21 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Rectal glyceryl nitrate and diltiazem (unlicensed)…
Safety in Lactation: Gastrointestinal antispasmodics
20 October 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. There is limited evidence for drugs…
Safety in Lactation: Local anaesthetic eye preparations
15 October 2020Local anaesthetics for ophthalmic use have limited systemic absorption in the mother, and pose negligible risk to a breastfed infant. Systemic absorption from eye drops…
Metronidazole – is it safe to use with breastfeeding?
12 October 2020The balance of current evidence and clinical experience, and the consensus of specialist opinion, is that there is no established mutagenic or carcinogenic risk to…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for hyperlipidaemias
25 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. There is no evidence for the…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for obstructive airways disease
25 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Bronchodilators Most bronchodilators are considered to…
Safety in lactation: Laxatives
25 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Bulk-forming laxatives Bulk-forming laxatives are not…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for hypertension
23 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Many of the drugs covered by…
Safety in Lactation: Intravenous anaesthetics
23 September 2020The effects of intravenous anaesthetics are short-lived. Levels of these drugs in milk are very low. It is therefore considered that breastfeeding can be resumed…
Safety in Lactation: Topical corticosteroids
23 September 2020Topical corticosteroids are considered to pose a negligible risk to a breastfeeding infant as long as precautions are taken to avoid direct contact of the…
Safety in Lactation: Vaginal and vulval infections
23 September 2020Fungal vulval infections are normally associated with a vaginal infection which should be treated with an appropriate intravaginal cream or pessary – imidazole drugs to…
Safety in Lactation: Antipsychotics
22 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Oral and non-depot antipsychotics with less…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for disorders of gastric acid and ulceration
21 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Drugs for dyspepsia Aluminium and magnesium…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs used in nausea and vertigo
21 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. The choice of anti-emetic will depend…
Safety in lactation: Drugs for chronic bowel disorders
21 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Aminosalicylates for chronic bowel disorders Mesalazine…
Safety in Lactation: Mucolytics and other drugs for cystic fibrosis
18 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. There is no evidence to support…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for bleeding disorders
18 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Antifibrinolytics & haemostatics Etamsylate is a…
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for thromboembolic disorders
18 September 2020Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Oral anticoagulants The coumarin anticoagulants, warfarin…
Oseltamivir or zanamivir – can they be used in breastfeeding mothers for the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza?
7 August 2020This updated Medicines Q&A evaluates the available evidence for oseltamivir and zanamivir when used in breastfeeding mothers for the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza. In…
Can breastfeeding mothers take paracetamol or paracetamol combination products?
3 June 2020This updated Medicines Q&A evaluates the available evidence for the safety of paracetamol in breastfeeding mothers. The updated version also contains information on paracetamol combination…
Can breastfeeding mothers take ibuprofen?
28 May 2020Ibuprofen is one of the painkillers of choice whilst breastfeeding. This Medicines Q&A evaluates the available evidence for the safety of ibuprofen in breastfeeding mothers,…
How should head lice be treated in a breastfeeding mother?
12 March 2020Wet combing or dimeticone may be used to treat head lice in breastfeeding mothers. Malathion may be used as an alternative if a traditional insecticide…
Is it safe for breastfeeding women to take herbal medicines?
23 May 2019It is generally advised that breastfeeding mothers avoid herbal medicines. This is due to the lack of information on whether or not various herbal medicines…
Chloramphenicol: is it safe in breastfeeding?
15 March 2019This updated Medicines Q&A discusses the safety of the antibiotic, chloramphenicol (systemic and ophthalmic), in breastfeeding women.
Safety in Lactation: Drugs for movement disorders
10 November 2018Additional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Drugs for dystonias and other involuntary…
Safety in Lactation: Non-beta lactam antibiotics and antibacterials
20 August 2018paedAdditional information relating to breastfeeding To be used in conjunction with individual drug entries for specific information and guidance. Aminoglycosides Only small or negligible amounts…
Which oral antihistamines are safe to use whilst breastfeeding?
10 May 2018This UKMi Q & A looks at the use of non-sedating and sedating antihistamines during breastfeeding Summary There are very limited studies or case reports…
Gabapentin and pregabalin—are they safe whilst breastfeeding?
16 April 2018This UKMi Medicines Q & A reviews the evidence available, and makes recommendations, for the use of gabapentin and pregabalin during breastfeeding. Summary: Limited data…
Which weak opioids can be used during breastfeeding? Considering the evidence for codeine, dihydrocodeine, and tramadol
15 March 2018This updated UKMi Q & A considers the evidence and regulatory recommendations regarding the contraindication of codeine use during breastfeeding. It also considers the evidence…