Prozac and Breastfeeding

Prozac and breastfeeding are compatible, but there may be a better choice for breastfeeding moms.

While Prozac is one of the few drugs approved by the FDA for use during pregnancy, some moms using Prozac during pregnancy choose to change to a different medication before birth or immediately thereafter.

However, according to a recent study by Yale researchers, nursing infants breastfeed without displaying meaningful effects from moms who take a dose of 20 to 40 mg of the anti-depressant Prozac daily.

A Better Drug of Choice?

Doctors often consider Zoloft a better choice for nursing mothers. Most studies of breastfed infants whose mothers were taking Zoloft find that only very small traces of the medication ever get into the breast milk.

However, if both you and your doctor feel you will do better on Prozac, it is still considered a fairly safe choice. The most common side effect to the breastfed baby was colic-like symptoms and that was rare.

It is most important that you and your doctor feel that you are cared for with the best medication choice for your symptoms and your individual needs.

If you require a very high dose of Prozac to be effective and you are worried about its effects on your baby, your doctor can measure the blood level the medication in your child after breastfeeding. This may be an expensive test, but it may help to reassure you that you can safely combine Prozac and breastfeeding without harming your baby.

Keep Fighting Depression

A depressed mom is not the best thing for your child. In fact, the effects can be both significant and hazardous. The minimal effects of antidepressant medication on a breastfeeding infant are far less. So don’t wean your baby and don’t wean off the medication.

Getting treatment for a mom with depression is preferred to not treating. By choosing to take a suitable medication for your depression, you will create a far better outcome for both you and your little one!

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