Is Pregabalin Safe in Breastfeeding
Question
I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Pregabalin? Is Pregabalin safe for nursing mother and child? Does Pregabalin extracts into breast milk? Does Pregabalin has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Pregabalin influence milk supply or can Pregabalin decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?
Pregabalin lactation summary
- DrLact safety Score for Pregabalin is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
- A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Pregabalin may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
- Our study of different scientific research indicates that Pregabalin may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
- Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Pregabalin low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
- While using Pregabalin We suggest monitoring child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to dosage.
- 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 Pregabalin usage in lactation
Anti-epileptic drug with structural properties similar to Gabapentin. Also used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. It is excreted into breast milk in small quantities as plasma levels in infants were less than 10% of maternal ones when compared to those of treated mothers. No side effects were observed in those infants. Because less experience has been published than with other drugs of the same group, alternatives that are known as safer should be considered of choice during the neonatal period or in case of preterm babies.
Answer by DrLact: About Pregabalin usage in lactation
Very limited data indicate that amounts of pregabalin in breastmilk are low. If pregabalin is required by the mother of an older infant, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding, but until more data become available, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Pregabalin Possible Effects in Breastfeeding
A study randomized pregnant women to either a single dose of pregabalin 150 mg (n = 45), 300 mg (n = 45), or placebo (n = 45) orally 1 hour before induction of anesthesia for an elective cesarean section to reduce postoperative analgesia requirements. Three infants of mothers in the pregabalin 300 mg group had difficulty latching on for breastfeeding for 8 hours after delivery, although none were sedated.[2]
Alternate Drugs
Pregabalin(Low Risk)
Valproic Acid(Safe)
Topiramate(Safe)
Primidone(Low Risk)
Lacosamide(Unsafe)
Phenytoin(Safe)
Phenobarbital(Low Risk)
Oxcarbazepine(Safe)
Levetiracetam(Safe)
Eslicarbazepine(Low Risk)
Lamotrigine(Low Risk)
Vigabatrin(Safe)
Gabapentin(Safe)
Clobazam(Low Risk)
Felbamate(Unsafe)
Pregabalin(Low Risk)
Ethosuximide(Unsafe)
Clonazepam(Low Risk)
Acetazolamide(Safe)
Carbamazepine(Safe)
Magnesium Sulfate(Safe)
Riluzole(Unsafe)
Zonisamide(Low Risk)