Mothers on antiepileptic medications can safely breastfeed: JAMA
Many drugs are excreted in breast milk therefore there is need for caution.As such breastfeeding is associated with benefits for children and their mothers. However, when mothers take medications there is a potential for adverse side effects in the infant.I
For mothers with epilepsy, there is no consensus within the medical community if breastfeeding while taking antiepileptic drugs could have adverse side effects on their children.
Researchers at University of Minnesota have found that mothers on antiepileptic drugs can safely breast feed their children.The study has been published study in JAMA Neurology.
While previous studies examined breast milk concentrations of antiepileptic drugs, it did not account for the amount of antiepileptic drugs metabolized by the child. U of M researchers found that the antiepileptic drug concentrations in blood samples of infants who were breastfed were substantially lower than maternal blood concentrations.
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