CHRONIC ILLNESS AND THE BREASTFEEDING MOTHER

Main Article Content

Shinya Ito

Keywords

Breastfeeding, breast milk, chronic disease, antidepressants, antiepileptics, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, information sources

Abstract

Medications taken for chronic illness (e.g., depression, epilepsy, immunological conditions ) while breastfeeding pose challenges to risk -assessment. Based on several cases of drug toxicity (or lack thereof) in the breastfeeding infant, individual risk : benefit analyses are discussed. The benefits of human milk are highlighted, together with clinically important principles for patient management, the spectrum of adverse effects in the infant, and emerging concerns regarding the safety of some medications during breastfeeding. A practical guide for patient management is presented.

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