Is Clonidine Safe in Breastfeeding

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

It may inhibit prolactin release. Check-up blood pressure

Because of the high serum levels found in breastfed infants, possible infant side effects, and the possible negative effects on lactation, other antihypertensive agents are preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.[1] Clonidine used as a single postpartum dose as a neuraxial analgesia adjunct probably has not been studied, but it may reduce the need for other medications or their dosages, and appears unlikely to affect breastfeeding.[2]

No typical clonidine side effects (e.g., dry mouth, sedation) were seen in 9 infants whose mothers were taking clonidine, despite the infants' serum levels being about two-thirds that of their mothers'.[3] Three infants whose mothers were taking clonidine 150 mcg twice daily were breastfed. During the first 3 days postpartum, no adverse effects on blood glucose, electrocardiogram or blood pressure. The infants had normal growth and psychomotor development at 1 year of age, although the duration of breastfeeding and clonidine use was not stated.[5] An infant was born to a mother taking clonidine 0.15 mg daily during pregnancy and postpartum. At 2 days of life, the infant presented with drowsiness, hypotonia, and suspected generalized seizures. At day 5, episodes of apnea were noted. On day 9 postpartum, breastfeeding was stopped and all symptoms resolved within 24 hours.[6] Clonidine was probably the cause of the reaction, but the relative contributions of exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding cannot be determined.

Clonidine has complex, dose-related actions on both oxytocin and prolactin secretion. The net effect of the drug on nursing mothers has not been well studied. A case of hyperprolactinemia and gynecomastia occurred in a 6-year-old boy taking clonidine for hyperactivity and valproic acid for a seizure disorder. Galactorrhea ceased within 3 weeks of discontinuing clonidine.[7] A case of clonidine-induced postpartum galactorrhea has also been reported.[8] The maternal prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.