LactMed Database: Breastfeeding Safety for Medications and Supplements

When you're breastfeeding, every pill, patch, or supplement you take matters—not just for you, but for your baby. That’s where the LactMed database, a free, science-backed resource from the National Library of Medicine that tracks how drugs move into breast milk and affect nursing infants. Also known as TOXNET LactMed, it’s the go-to tool for doctors, pharmacists, and moms who need clear answers before taking any medication while nursing. Unlike general drug guides, LactMed doesn’t just list side effects—it breaks down how much of a drug actually reaches the baby, how long it stays in their system, and whether there’s evidence of harm or benefit.

Related tools like drug safety during lactation, a field focused on understanding how medications transfer from mother to infant through breast milk rely on data from real-world studies, not just animal tests. For example, if you’re on antidepressants like sertraline or fluoxetine, LactMed shows you that sertraline has low transfer rates and no reported issues in over 100 infant cases, while fluoxetine may build up over time. It’s the same for painkillers: acetaminophen is low-risk, but codeine? It can turn into morphine in your body—and that morphine can make your baby dangerously sleepy. Even herbs like fenugreek or milk thistle, often marketed as "natural" lactation aids, are flagged in LactMed for possible effects on baby’s digestion or hormone levels.

What makes LactMed different is that it doesn’t just say "avoid" or "safe." It gives you context. For instance, if you’re prescribed an antibiotic like metronidazole, LactMed tells you that short-term use is usually fine, but long-term use might require pumping and dumping. It notes when timing matters—like taking ibuprofen right after nursing to minimize exposure. It even links to studies where infants had no detectable drug levels in their blood after exposure. This isn’t guesswork. It’s data from clinical observations, pharmacokinetic models, and pediatric monitoring.

And it’s not just for prescription drugs. Over-the-counter cold meds, thyroid pills, acne treatments, and even CBD oil are all in there. If you’re wondering whether your migraine medication, anxiety pill, or birth control shot is okay while nursing, LactMed answers it without jargon. You won’t find marketing fluff or vague warnings like "consult your doctor." You’ll see: "Excretion into milk: low. Infant serum levels: undetectable. Reported adverse effects: none in 32 cases."

What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories and science-backed guides that connect directly to what LactMed teaches. From how antivirals affect nursing babies to why some blood pressure meds are safer than others during breastfeeding, each article pulls from the same evidence base. Whether you’re dealing with postpartum depression, a stubborn infection, or just worried about that new supplement your aunt swore by, these posts help you use LactMed’s findings to make smarter, calmer choices—without fear or confusion.