Citranatal Rx Breastfeeding

American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical experts exclusively recommend to breastfeed the baby for first 6 months. Once you introduce baby to other foods it is recommended to breastfeed for at least first year of babys life. Taking medication while breastfeeding could be tricky as most drugs pass in breast milk. In this article we will evaluate Citranatal Rx for its safety in breastfeeding.

What is Citranatal Rx used for?


CitraNatal® Rx is a multivitamin/multimineral prescription drug indicated for use in improving the nutritional status of women prior to conception, throughout pregnancy, and in the postnatal period for both lactating and nonlactating mothers. CONTRAINDICATIONS This product is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.

Is Citranatal Rx usage safe while breastfeeding? If a lactating mother is using it can there be any effect on growth or development of infant?

Citranatal Rx Contains 14 active ingredients that are Ascorbic acid, Calcium citrate, Iron, Vitamin d, .alpha.-tocopherol, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Folic acid, Potassium iodide, Zinc oxide, Cupric cation, Docusate sodium. We do have breastfeeding analysis and safety rating of some of the active ingredients but unfortunately we do not have any information of some of active ingredients used. Below we have provided whatever information we do have. But please do not take any decision based on below provided information and contact your health care provider as this information is incomplete.

Citranatal Rx Breastfeeding Analsys


Ascorbic acid while Breastfeeding

Low Risk

CAS Number: 50-81-7

Vitamin C is abundantly present in food. A balanced and comprehensive diet makes vitamin supplementation useless. Any amount of vitamin C taken by the mother as a supplement does not affect significantly the concentration in breast milk of women who are on a varied and balanced diet.

Calcium citrate while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 471-34-1

Various calcium salts (Acetate, Carbonate, Chloride, Citrate, Phosphate, Gluceptate, Glucobionato, Lactate, Laxctobionato Pidolate, Silicate) are used in the management of hypocalcemia, supplements for treating calcium deficiency states and antacids ( Carbonate and Silicate) Daily requirement of calcium during lactation are 1 g (1.3 g in children under 20 years).Calcium supplements in the diet does not affect the concentration of calcium in milk.Excessive intake of calcium is not good for health. During lactation, consumption of calcium should not exceed 2.5 g a day. WHO List of Essential Medicines 2002 states that it is compatible with breastfeeding.

Iron while Breastfeeding

Safe

Several ferrous salts of iron (ascorbate, aspartate, citrate, chloride, fumarate, gluconate, lactate, oxalate, succinate, sulfate, glycine sulfate, etc.) are used in oral administration for treating or preventing iron deficiency anemia.Its molecular weight varies from 170 for the fumarate and succinate, and from 280 for lactate and sulfate to 400 for aspartate and ascorbate. Characteristics of iron metabolism in the body make unlikely that it would be excreted in a significant amount into breast milk.It is a medication used for treatment of Neonatal Anemia in premature babies. Iron is excreted in small amounts in human milk, usually being enough for covering the daily needs of infants due to its high bioavailability. There is no correlation between mother's daily intake of iron and its concentration in breast milk.Iron supplementation to the mother does not increase levels of iron in breast milk or infant plasma significantly. Excessive supplementation can reduce the zinc concentration in milk. WHO List of Essential Medicines 2002: compatible with breastfeeding.

Vitamin d while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 67-97-0

Daily allowance of Vitamin D for the breastfeeding woman is still an issue and a matter of disagreement among experts. Vitamin D is hardly found in common food and mostly synthesized by skin under sunlight stimulus. Low concentration in breast milk is thought to be due to deficient levels in the serum of mothers. As high as 6.400 IU daily doses of Vitamin D given to the mother have been required to normalize the infant serum content of 25-OH Vitamin D. Moderate exposure of mothers to sunlight, avoiding any burning, is probably the most cost-effective measure to fight Vitamin D deficiency in the infant. 1 mg = 40.000 IU.

Thiamine while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 59-43-8

Thiamine or Vitamin B1 is a water soluble vitamin. In addition to Thiamine, other chemical compounds with similar activity: Acetiamine, Benfotiamine, Bisbentiamine, Bisbutiamina, Cetotiamina, Cicotiamina, Cocarboxylase, Fursultiamine, Monofosfotiamina, Octotiamine, Pyrophosphotiamine, Prosultiamine and Sulbutiamine.It is essential for the metabolism of carbohydrate nutrients. Its deficiency causes severe neuromuscular and cardiac symptoms known as Beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff disease. Thiamine deficiency is common among disadvantaged populations in Southeast Asia (predominantly consumers of refined rice), other malnourished people (refugees, low socioeconomic status ...) and chronic alcohol consumption. Beriberi of childhood, both infants and children, may arise from breastfeeding by Thiamine deficient mothers. Reportedly, several severe cases have occured after feeding the babies with artificial formulas that were not supplemented with vitamin B1. Daily allowance is higher during pregnancy and lactation (1.5 mg / day) which is readily obtained through a varied diet with adequate content of whole grains, legumes, nuts, eggs and lean meat.Thiamine is excreted in breast milk and gradually increases with time, being lower in colostrum (28 ng / mL) and transitional milk than in mature milk (180 ng / mL). The concentration is lower in milk from mothers of preterm (90 ng / mL). Taking vitamin supplementation is not required if diet and nutritional status are adequate. Supplementation does not increase levels in milk of well-nourished women, but of those with a low nutritional status. The supplementation of group B vitamins and C and E vitamins to HIV positive mothers improves the weight growth of their breasted babies.There is no evidence of their effectiveness in improving athletic performance, lack of appetite, sores, stress, fatigue or aging.Toxicity linked to excessive consumption of thiamine is not known. WHO List of Essential Medicines 2002: compatible with breastfeeding.American Academy of Pediatrics: usually compatible with breastfeeding

Riboflavin while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 83-88-5

A balanced and comprehensive diet make it vitamin supplementation useless.

Niacinamide while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 98-92-0

A balanced and comprehensive diet make it vitamin supplementation useless.

Pyridoxine hydrochloride while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 58-56-0

Concentration of vitamin B6 in the breast milk is directly related to the amount present in diet with the possibility of a high increment by an excessive consumption through the diet. Daily allowance of vitamin B6 ranges from 2 to 3 mg. A balanced and varied diet is enough without a need for extra supplementation with this vitamin. Vitamin B6 deficiency is extremely rare since it is widely distributed in many foods. In those cases where supplementation is required, it is recommended not to exceed 40 mg a-day. There are controversial data on the capacity of a high dose of Pyridoxine to inhibit the secretion of Prolactin and suppress the milk production. The American Academy of Pediatrics rates it as usually compatible with breastfeeding.

Folic acid while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 59-30-3

Soluble B group vitamin that is very abundant in green vegetables, legumes and fruits (citric fruits). It is actively excreted in breast milk with priority over maternal folate in such extent that may even cause maternal deficit. Exclusive breastfeeding meets the daily allowances of infant folic acid.The concentration is higher in mature milk (85 micrograms / L) than in colostrum and premature breast milk.Administration to nursing mothers increases slightly the usual concentration of folate in breast milk. Folic acid needs are increased during pregnancy and lactation (500-600 micrograms / day) and in case of taking anticonvulsant medication. No harmful effects have been observed by taking folic acid during lactation. Excess of folic acid is eliminated by the kidneys every day. No supplements are needed if diet and nutritional status are adequate. The American Academy of Pediatrics rates it as a mediation usually compatible with breastfeeding.WHO List of Essential Medicines 2002: compatible with breastfeeding.

Potassium iodide while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 7447-40-7

Human milk has a potassium concentration of 13 meq/L, almost a half of rehydration solution content and a quarter of maximal IV recommended dose. Potassium supplementation does not alter milk concentration without increasing mother’s serum concentration, which is strictly limited from 3,5 to 5,5 meq/L.

Zinc oxide while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 1314-13-2

It is used topically as an astringent and skin protector, very often together with small amounts of Ferric Oxide to form Calamine (see specific info). It is a product compatible with breastfeeding according to WHO Essential Medicine’s List - 2002.It is also used in dental hygiene products and cosmetics. Widely used for skin protection of the diaper area in infants. Because of the small dose used and poor absorption into plasma of most topical dermatological preparations, excretion into breastmilk in significant amount appears to be unlikely. Do not apply on the breast to prevent infant ingestion; otherwise, wash it off thoroughly with water before the next breast feed.

Docusate sodium while Breastfeeding

Safe

CAS Number: 10041-19-7

Anionic surfactant that acts as an emollient laxative. It is also used to treat the retention of ear cerumen. It is minimally absorbed in the duodenum-jejunum and excreted in the bile. No problems have been observed in infants whose mothers were treated, except one case of diarrhea that was possibly due to other laxative medication took by the mother (Greenhalf 1973). The Institute at the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) consideres it to be compatible while breastfeeding (Mahadevan 2006).


Citranatal Rx Breastfeeding Analsys - 2


Vitamin d while Breastfeeding

CAS Number: 67-97-0 50-14-6

Vitamin D is a normal component of human milk. Daily maternal vitamin D supplementation in the 400 to 2,000 IU range produces milk concentrations that are inadequate to deliver the daily requirement to an exclusively breastfed infant, and inadequate to correct pre-existing infant vitamin D deficiency through breastfeeding alone. Breastfeeding mothers who take vitamin D supplements in this range should give their infants a daily vitamin D supplement of at least 400 IU to meet pediatric nutritional guidelines.[1][2][3][4][5] Daily maternal vitamin D dosages at or above 4,000 IU achieve milk levels can potentially meet the daily infant goal intake of at least 400 IU, depending on the mother's underlying vitamin D status and daily infant milk intake. Obese mothers may have higher requirements. Holder pasteurization decreased median levels of the major forms of vitamin D in breastmilk by 20% in one study.[6]

Docusate sodium while Breastfeeding

CAS Number: 10041-19-7

Docusate is minimally absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and therefore the drug is unlikely to be found in the maternal serum or breastmilk. Laxatives that are completely unabsorbed may be preferred.[2]



I already used Citranatal Rx and meanwhile I breastfed my baby should I be concerned?

Not much study has been done on safety of Citranatal Rx in breastfeeding and its ingredients. Even we do not have complete information about usage of Citranatal Rx in breastfeeding so at this point a trained medical professional could be your best bet. If you observe anything abnormal with your baby please contact 911.


I am nursing mother and my doctor has suggested me to use Citranatal Rx, is it safe?

If your doctor considers Citranatal Rx safe enough to prescribe for you that means its benefits should outweigh its known risks for you.


If I am using Citranatal Rx, will my baby need extra monitoring?

We are not Sure, Please check with your healthcare provider or doctor.


Who can I talk to if I have questions about usage of Citranatal Rx in breastfeeding?

US
National Womens Health and Breastfeeding Helpline: 800-994-9662 (TDD 888-220-5446) 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday

UK
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300-100-0212 9.30am to 9.30pm, daily
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300-330-5453
La Leche League: 0345-120-2918
The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300-456-2421
National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300-330-0700

Australia
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 1800-686-268 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Canada
Telehealth Ontario for breastfeeding: 1-866-797-0000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week