Which of the following instructions should be given to a lactating mother regarding drug usage?
No advice is required as most of the drugs are secreted negligibly in the milk
Take drugs with longer half-life
Tell her to feed the baby just before next dose
Do not feed the baby if you are consuming any drug
Just before the next dose, the plasma concentration of drug is minimum; so it is relatively safer to feed at that time. Some drugs are secreted significantly in milk. There is no relation between half-life of a drug and its milk secretion ; So, long half life drugs may also come in milk. Not all the drugs are harmful or significantly secreted in milk so feed should not be stopped. Drugs C/I during lactation: Lithium Aspirin Levetiracetam Atenolol Sulfonamide Metronidazole Methotrexate Metals(Cu).