Is Amantadine Safe in Breastfeeding

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

Antiviral used for treatment and prophylaxis of type-A Influenza. Since it is a dopamine agonist is also used to treat Parkinson’s disease. At latest update relevant published data on excretion into breast milk were not found. Because of large volume of distribution and low plasma level observed (Pacifici 1976), a passage of significant amount through breastmilk or side-effects on the infant are not likely to occur. Amantadine reduces plasma levels of prolactin, it has been used to treat galactorrhea caused by the use of dopaminergic neuroleptic drugs (Siever 1981 Correa 1987, Marken 1992, Carvalho 2011), however there is not information about the effect on lactating mothers. Prolactin is important to milk production especially during the first few weeks within birth. Frequent and effective stimulation of the nipple by the infant is essential on the maintenance of breastfeeding. Whether administered during breastfeeding, it would be advisable not to use it in the neonatal period and monitor milk production.

It is probably best to avoid amantadine during breastfeeding because of its potential negative effect on lactation.

Amantadine is a dopamine agonist. Clinical studies using amantadine dosages of 100 mg 2 or 3 times daily have demonstrated a decrease in serum prolactin and decreased galactorrhea in patients taking dopaminergic neuroleptic drugs such as phenothiazines, haloperidol and loxapine.[1][2] No studies have been reported on the effects of amantadine on the milk supply in nursing mothers. The maternal prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.