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Previous Volume 343:118-126 July 13, 2000 Number 2 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Breast-feeding is the best method of feeding neonates and young infants.¹ Its popularity has increased in recent years,² although in 1995 only about 60 percent of new mothers in the United States were breast-feeding their infants at the time of hospital discharge.³ Current recommendations suggest that in the absence of contraindications, women should breast-feed their infants for at least the first 12 months of life. However, many mothers are likely to need to take medications at some point during this time.^4,5 The possible effects of these medications on breast-fed infants are therefore of great concern.

Benefits of Breast-Feeding

Breast-feeding is associated with a . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Assessing the Risk of Drug-Induced Toxicity among Breast-Fed Infants

Excretion of Drugs in Breast Milk

Determinants of Levels of Exposure

Risk of Adverse Outcomes

Drugs That Require a Careful Assessment of Risk

Antidepressant Drugs and Lithium

            Fluoxetine

            Doxepin

            Sertraline

            Lithium

Antiepileptic Drugs

Cardiovascular and Antihypertensive Drugs

Immunosuppressant Drugs

Drugs of Abuse

            Cocaine and Marijuana

            Methadone

Nonmedicinal Substances

            Caffeine

            Ethanol

            Nicotine

Iodine-Containing Contrast Medium and Antiseptic Agents

Drugs of Choice for Breast-Feeding Women

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Research Institute, the Hospital for Sick Children, and the Departments of Paediatrics and Pharmacology, University of Toronto — both in Toronto.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Ito at the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada, or at ito@sickkids.on.ca.

References

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• Glatstein, M. M., Garcia-Bournissen, F., Giglio, N., Finkelstein, Y., Koren, G. (2009). Pharmacologic treatment of hyperthyroidism during lactation. cfp 55: 797-798 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Akus, M., Bartick, M. (2007). Lactation Safety Recommendations and Reliability Compared in 10 Medication Resources. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 41: 1352-1360 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
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