title: Drugs and breast-feeding.
abstract: (1) Report of severe adverse effects in infants from drugs passing into breast milk are rare. (2) Two reports of neurological disorders in infants due to doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant, necessitating hospitalisation, serve as a reminder that this risk exists. (3) Epidemiological data are almost non existent. A prospective follow-up study of more than 800 breast-fed infants whose mothers were taking medicinal drugs showed minor adverse effects in 11% of the children (mainly diarrhoea, drowsiness and irritability). None of the mothers sought medical advice. (4) When a breast-feeding mother requires drug therapy, all available information should be weighed up before advising her to switch to bottle feeding.
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004316:Doxepin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D004316:Doxepin