Transfer of dexamphetamine into breast milk during treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate dexamphetamine transfer into milk, infant doses and effects in the breast-fed infant.


METHODS
Four women taking dexamphetamine, and their infants were studied.


RESULTS
The median maternal dexamphetamine dose was 18 mg day(-1) (range 15-45 mg day(-1)). Median (interquartile range) descriptors were 3.3 (2.2-4.8) for milk/plasma ratio, 21 microg kg(-1) day(-1) (11-39) for absolute infant dose and 5.7% (4-10.6%) for relative infant dose. No adverse effects were seen. In three infants tested, dexamphetamine in plasma was undetected in one (limit of detection 1 microg l(-1)) and present at 18 microg l(-1) and 2 microg l(-1) in the other two.


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamphetamine readily transfers into milk. The relative infant dose was <10% and within a range that is generally accepted as being 'safe' in the short term.
Ilett
Kenneth F
KF
Pharmacology Unit M510, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, 6009 Australia. ken.ilett@uwa.edu.au
Hackett
L Peter
LP
Kristensen
Judith H
JH
Kohan
Rolland
R
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy
D003913:Dextroamphetamine