Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Kokayeen? Is Kokayeen safe for nursing mother and child? Does Kokayeen extracts into breast milk? Does Kokayeen has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Kokayeen influence milk supply or can Kokayeen decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Kokayeen lactation summary

Kokayeen is dangerous in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Kokayeen is 7 out of 8 which is considered Dangerous as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 7 indicates that usage of Kokayeen may cause toxic or severe side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Kokayeen may cause moderate to high side effects or may affect milk supply in lactating mother.
  • Our suggestion is to use safer alternate options rather than using Kokayeen .
  • Usage of Kokayeen is in contradiction to breastfeeding hence if it is must to use Kokayeen and there is no better alternative available then breastfeeding shall be stopped permanently or temporarily.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Kokayeen usage in lactation

High excretion into breast milk which is very toxic for the infant. Newborn and very young infants eliminate it at a lower rate than adults. Kokayeen is detected in urine of infants until 60 hours after a breast feed. Reportedly, cases of irritability, tremulousness, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, tachycardia and arterial hypertension in infants whose mothers had taken this drug have occurred. Applying on mother's nipple as anesthetic is highly hazardous since seizures, lethargy or coma may occur, Also, severe health troubles by passive inhalation of Kokayeen smoke (Crack) have been shown. Drug abuse behavior incapacitates the mother for appropriate baby care and poses a life hazard for both the mother and the infant. Bed-sharing is not recommended for mothers who are taking this drug. After exceptional Kokayeen consumption a free period of 24 hours should be observed before resuming breastfeeding.

Answer by DrLact: About Kokayeen usage in lactation

No data are available on the medical use of Kokayeen in nursing mothers. However, because of its chemical nature, high concentrations of Kokayeen are expected in milk.[1][2] Kokayeen and its metabolites are detectable in breastmilk, although data are from random breastmilk screening of mothers who used Kokayeen recreationally rather than controlled studies. Kokayeen breastmilk concentrations have varied over 100-fold in these reports. Newborn infants are extremely sensitive to Kokayeen because they have not yet developed the enzyme that inactivates it and serious adverse reactions have been reported in a newborn infant exposed to Kokayeen via breastmilk. Kokayeen should not be used by nursing mothers or smoked (such as with "crack") by anyone in the vicinity of infants because the infants can be exposed by inhaling the smoke.[3][4] Other factors to consider are the possibility of positive urine tests in breastfed infants which might have legal implications, and the possibility of other harmful contaminants in street drugs. A breastfeeding abstinence period of 24 hours has been suggested for women who occasionally use Kokayeen while breastfeeding, based on the rapid elimination of Kokayeen by the mother.[5] Some authors have proposed that breastfeeding be discontinued only for those infants who test positive for Kokayeen exposure.[6] However, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine suggests that women who have abused Kokayeen generally should not breastfeed unless they have a negative maternal urine toxicology at delivery, have been abstinent for at least 90 days, are in a substance abuse treatment program and plan to continue it in the postpartum period, have the approval of their substance abuse counselor, have been engaged and compliant in their prenatal care, and have no other contraindications to breastfeeding.[7]

Kokayeen Side Effects in Breastfeeding

A woman who was breastfeeding her 1-week-old daughter reported using a "dab" of Kokayeen on her lower gum and nursing her infant with no effect on her infant's behavior or sleep pattern. One week later she used about 500 mg of Kokayeen intranasally over a 4-hour period and breastfed 5 times during this period. Three hours after first ingesting the Kokayeen, the mother noted that her infant became markedly irritable, had dilated pupils, and began having vomiting and diarrhea. The infant became increasingly irritable and was taken to the emergency room 4 hours later. On examination, the infant was found to be tremulous and irritable with frequent startling after minimal stimulation, and to have high-pitched crying, hyperactive reflexes, mood lability, and hypertension. The infant also had some signs of fetal alcohol syndrome. The infant remained irritable 12 hours after the last Kokayeen exposure and remained tremulous and easily startled 24 hours after the last exposure. Irritability and tremulousness slowly abated over the subsequent 24 hours. Mild hypertension persisted up to 72 hours after the last Kokayeen exposure via breastmilk.[8] The mother of an 11-day-old infant applied Kokayeen powder to her nipples for pain relief. She then breastfed her infant using a breast shield that allowed protrusion of her nipples. Three hours later, she found the infant gasping, choking and blue. On arrival at the emergency room, the infant was ashen and cyanotic. He had hypertension, tachycardia, shallow breathing, hypothermia and was in status epilepticus. Seizures resolved in a few hours after treatment and the infant was discharged at 16 days of age with no apparent sequelae.[15] Although the infant's Kokayeen exposure was not via the drug in breastmilk, it illustrates the extreme risk of exposure of young infants to Kokayeen.

Kokayeen Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

Long-term Kokayeen use can result in chronic, low-level hyperprolactinemia.[16][17][18] The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed. Mothers who use Kokayeen initiate breastfeeding of their infants less frequently than mothers who do not use Kokayeen.[19][20]

Alternate Drugs

Dibucaine(Low Risk)
Articaine(Safe)
Mepivacaine(Low Risk)
Cocaine(Dangerous)
Cocaine(Dangerous)
Cocaine(Dangerous)
Heroin(Dangerous)
Phencyclidine(Dangerous)
Cannabis(Low Risk)
Zolmitriptan(Low Risk)
Rizatriptan(Low Risk)
Naratriptan(Low Risk)
Frovatriptan(Low Risk)
Almotriptan(Low Risk)
Phenylephrine(Low Risk)
Ergotamine(Unsafe)
Pseudoephedrine(Low Risk)
Cocaine(Dangerous)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.