Medicines and breastfeeding: information is available on  safe use

Amir, Lisa H

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01011.x

Topics

To the Editor: In his review of drug information for thyroid-related medications, Stockigt noted the “outdated advice that antithyroid drugs are not compatible with breastfeeding.”1 However, outdated product information is not unique to antithyroid drugs. Product information rarely states that the drug is safe or advisable for breastfeeding women.

1 Mother and Child Health Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC.
2 Women’s Clinic on Richmond Hill, Melbourne, VIC.
3 Breastfeeding Education and Support Services, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: l.amir@latrobe.edu.au

1. Stockigt JR. Barriers in the quest for quality drug information: salutary lessons from TGA-approved sources for thyroid-related medications. Med J Aust 2007; 186: 76-79. <MJA full text>
2. Jones W, Brown D. The medication vs breastfeeding dilemma. Br J Midwifery 2003; 11: 550-555.
3. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs. Transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics 2001; 108: 776-789.
4. Gazarian M, Kelly M, McPhee JR, et al. Off-label use of medicines: consensus recommendations for evaluating appropriateness. Med J Aust 2006; 185: 544-548. <MJA full text>
5. Therapeutic Goods Administration Australian Drug Evaluation Committee. Prescribing medicines in pregnancy. An Australian categorisation of risk of drug use in pregnancy. 4th ed. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, 1999. http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/pdf/medpreg.pdf (accessed Jan 2007).

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