Can i take sudafed while breastfeeding

Sudafed does pass into breast milk. The risks to a child who is breastfed are thought to be low. But there are other factors to consider about using Sudafed while breastfeeding. For instance, one report claims that Sudafed may cause infants to be more irritable or more lethargic than normal. Also, Sudafed may reduce the amount of milk your body makes.

If you take Sudafed while breastfeeding, you should monitor how much milk your body makes. Drinking extra fluids may help increase the amount of milk you produce. All forms of Sudafed contain pseudoephedrine, the drug that causes the effects described above.

This drug can help relieve pain and treat fevers. According to the National Institutes of Health , naproxen sodium is thought to be generally safe for use while breastfeeding. They can help you reduce or avoid effects on your child. When possible, avoid breastfeeding within two hours of your last dose of Sudafed. You have the highest amount of Sudafed in your breast milk one to two hours after you take the drug.

Drugs that come as a nasal spray or rinse may be safer options than forms you take by mouth. This is because nasal forms generally work directly in the nose and send less of the drug into your breast milk.

Some examples include:. Several methods can help relieve congestion without the use of medication. For instance, using a humidifier or taking a shower both provide steam, which can help open up your nasal passages.

Saline sprays, which you can find over-the-counter at your local drugstore, can help empty fluids from your nose. These salt-and-water formulas can also decrease pressure in your nasal passages. At night, you can try adhesive nasal strips.

Clinical decisions remain the responsibility of medical and breastfeeding practitioners. The data presented here is intended to provide some immediate information but cannot replace input from professionals.

Many people take decongestant tablets, powders and lemon drinks when they have a cold or sinus pain. Although they are unlikely to affect a breastfeeding baby they have a potential significant impact on milk supply and should be avoided during breastfeeding. Inhaling steam is a cheap and effective means of reducing congestion and should be used frequently before resorting to drugs. Decongestant sprays are as effective and have no effect on supply as they only work locally in the nasal passages.

Pseudoephedrine is secreted into breastmilk in low levels. In one study Findlay the calculated dose that would be absorbed by the infant was very low 0. This could be explained suggest the authors by a drop in prolactin which was greater in those with babies older than 60 weeks Aljazaf Anecdotally some mothers have reported wakefulness.

Phenyephrine is poorly bioavailability not well absorbed from the gut so it is not likely to produce effects in a breastfed infant with normal doses. Decongestant nasal sprays containing xylometazoline, oxymetazoline are effective in relieving nasal congestion but do not produce wakefulness nor reduce milk supply.

They are safe and effective but should not be used long term more than 7 days. Penicillin antibiotics including amoxicillin, amoxicillin with clavulanate and flucloxacillin , cefalexin, erythromycin and azithromycin are considered safe. Metronidazole is considered safe in doses up to mg three times a day, although it may give the milk a bitter taste.

Both pyrantel and mebendazole are considered safe as they are poorly absorbed from the gut and are unlikely to be passed into breast milk in clinically relevant amounts.

Topical antifungal cream and pessaries containing clotrimazole, miconazole and nystatin are safe to use while breastfeeding. Antiviral medicines such as aciclovir cream can be used in breastfeeding, and if the cold sores are severe an oral course of aciclovir or valaciclovir from your doctor would be considered safe to use whilst breastfeeding. These options are preferred to famciclovir which has no published data on how much enters breastmilk.

Apply plenty of hair conditioner to the dry hair until saturated, use ordinary comb to remove tangles, then use metal fine tooth nit comb in 4 directions forward, backward, left and right.

Remove lice from comb. Rinse out and dry hair. Repeat every 1 to 2 days over a 10 day treatment period. Treatment should be repeated in 7 days to kill lice that have hatched. Some antidepressants are considered compatible with breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to discuss your options and for further advice. There is very little information available on the distribution of herbal preparations into breast milk, or their effects on lactation.

Care should be exercised with their use. The combined estrogen-progesterone pill may decrease the quantity and alter the composition of breastmilk. It may be considered after 6 weeks if breastfeeding is well established.

Contact the Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Medicines Information Service at the Women and Newborn Health Service for further information on the use of medications in breastfeeding mothers:. This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional.

Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

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