The compatibility of psychiatric medication and breastfeeding It is an issue that can be very important and that deals deeply with an article recently published in the Archives of Psychiatry and signed by doctors Ibone Olza, Elena Serrano and Carmen Muñoz.
When a mother has a postpartum depression or suffers from a medical condition that makes the use of psychiatric medication recommended, it is inevitable that her convenience and the risks you may have for breastfeeding.
Unfortunately, if the treating physician does not fully know the benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the baby, he can recommend weaning that could be avoided.
But, in general, a postpartum depression does not imply the need to give up breastfeeding Well, even if you have to use medication, it is compatible.
That is why it is important for psychiatrists to know problems that may result from premature weaning for the health of the child and the anxiolytic effect of breastfeeding itself for the mother, in addition to what the peak of oxytocin that occurs in breastfeeding in both.
In this work the different ones are analyzed scientifically psychiatric medications, their effect on breastfeeding and the benefits of breastfeeding and the need to protect it in the psychiatric cases, offering the mother support and all the necessary information so that she can make a free and conscious decision.
It should be noted that most antidepressants can be used during breastfeeding. Sertraline is the treatment of choice in these cases. Among the anxiolytics, short-lived benzodiazepines can be used. On the other hand, other medications are discouraged, either because of the known negative effects, or because they lack sufficient data.
Even, despite being problematic, lithium carbonate can be used wisely and always monitoring the condition of the baby and monitoring its plasma levels.
Since the benefits of breastfeeding are very significant, health professionals should keep them in mind and freduce breastfeeding continuation whenever possible and use compatible medications whenever possible.
