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Taking
Medication
when
Nursing
Home
Last Updated
February 2, 2004
This is a partial listing of medications and is by no means complete.  It is based on the 10th Edition (2002) of Dr. Hale's Medications and Mothers' Milk.
Contact your health care provider when making decisions concerning your health and the health of your nursling.
Medications are organized by their use, and then by their Lactation Risk Category.
What should you know about taking medications when nursing?

What do the "Lactation Risk" categories mean?
How this listing is organized;
Other sources for checking medications

Med. Listing
Partial listing of:
Analgesics;
Anesthetics;
Antacids & Related Medications;
Acne - topical treatments
Med. Listing
Partial listing of:
Antibiotics;
Antidepressants & Antianxiety
Med. Listing
Partial listing of:
Antihistimines;
Antimigraine;
Asthma Meds, Bronchodilators, Intrapulmonary steroids; Antivirals; Nasal steroids; Non-steroidal nasal sprays; contraceptives
Med. Listing
Partial listing of:
Decongestants; Expectorants; Diabetes meds; Diuretics; Cholesterol meds; Cough suppressants; Corticosteroids; Laxativees
Med. Listing
Partial listing of:
Muscle relaxants; Hypnotics, sedatives, tranquilizers; Thyroid meds
Med. Listing
Partial listing of:
Antidiarrheals; Antiemetics/ Antinauseants; Antihypertensives; Antifungals;
Antipsychotics
How this listing is organized:
This is a partial listing only, and typographical errors do happen.  Other sources for checking medications include:
Check the partial listing of AAP-Approved Medications for Nursing Moms at KellyMom.com;
Call the Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Study Center at the University of Rochester (NY) at (585) 275-0088 or via fax at (585) 461-3614;
Call Motherisk at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto at (416) 813-6780;
Check the information on taking medications safely at the AskDrSears website;
Check the information on "Drugs in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding" at Perinatology.com -- you will need to know the generic name of the medication to look it up at that website.
Analgesics (pain relievers)
L1 (Safest)
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
L2 (Safer)
Alfentanil (Alfenta)
Diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren)
Fenoprofen (Nalfon)
Fentanyl (Sublimaze)
Flurbiprofen (Ansaid, Froben, Ocufen)
Ketorolac (Toradol, Acular)
Meperidine (Demerol) - L3 if used early xxxpostpartum
Pentosan polysulfate (Elmiron)
Piroxicam (Feldane)
Propoxyphene (Darvocet-n, Propacet, xxxDarvon)
L3 (Moderately Safe)
Aspirin
Buprenorphine (Buprenex)
Butalbital compound (Fioricet, Fiorinal)
Butorphanol (Stadol)
Capsaicin - topical (Zostrix, Axsain, xxxCapsin, Capzasin-p)
L3 (Moderately Safe)-continued
Codeine
Etodolac (Lodine)
Hydrocodoen (Lortab, Vicodin)
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
Ketoprofen (Orudis, Oruvail)
Methadone (Dolophine)
Morphine
Nalbuphine (Nubain)
Naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, Aleve) - xxxL4 for chronic use
Oxaprozin (Daypro)
Oxycodone (Tylox, Percodan, xxxOxycontin)
Paregoric
Pentazocine (Talwin, Talacen)
Phenazopyridine HCL (Pyridium, Eridium, xxxAzo-standard)
Remifentanil (Ultiva)
Rofecoxib (Vioxx)
Tolmetin sodium (Tolectin)
Tramadol HCL (Ultram, Ultracet)
Zolmitriptan (Zomig)
Anesthetics - local, gas, epidural, topical
L2 (Safer)
Bupivacaine - l, e - (Marcaine)
Halothane - g - (Fluothane)
L3 (Moderately Safe)
Dibucaine - l - (Nupercainal)
Lidocaine - l - (Xylocaine)
Mepivacaine - l - (Carbocaine, Polocaine)
Methohexital (Brevital)
Nitrous oxide - g
Procaine HCL - l - (Novocaine)
L4 (Possibly Hazardous)
Diethyl ether
Antacids & Related Medications
L2 (Safer)
Metoclopramide (Reglan) - see more
Nizatidine (Axid)
Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Pantoprazole (Protonix)
Ranitidine (Zantac)
L1 (Safest)
Magnesium hydroxide (Mild of Magnesia)
L2 (Safer)
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Cisapride (Propulsid)
Esomeprazole (Nexium)
Famotidine (Pepcid, Axid-AR)
Lansoprazole (Prevacid, Prevpac)
Acne - topical treatments
L3 (Moderately Safe)
Adapalene (Differin)
Azelaic acid (Azelex, Finevin)
Metronidazole topical gel (Metrogel xxxtopical)
Tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova)
L5 (Contraindicated)
Isotretinoin (Accutane)
L3 (Moderately Safe)
Rabeprazole (Aciphex)