Breastfeeding and antidepressants?

Question

Which antidepressant medication is safest while breastfeeding? Also, without any sexual side effects.

Answer 1

Zoloft is at the top of the list.  Check he link below for a more comprehensive look at more antidepressants and BF.

Answer 2

My OB/GYN recommeds Zoloft.  I'm taking it and breastfeeding, and have little side effects.  Whatever you do, don't take Effexor, it's got horrible side effects when you stop taking it.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Zoloft in the lowest dose that achieves the desired effect. If this is not effective, in consultation with your doctor, try Paxil. If your doctor wishes you to take Prozac, start with a low dose and gradually increase it.

If you require higher doses of these drugs and you are worried about the effect on your infant, ask your doctor to measure the blood level of the SRI in your infant on two different occasions, preferably 2-6 hours after you've taken the medication. Bear in mind that part of this test will have to be done in a special lab and may be expensive.

In general, with *any* anti-depressant, even one generally considered safe while bfing, the infant should always be monitored in some way.

Zoloft is the "best drug choice so far". It has a low, low transfer rate to breastmilk (17-173 ug/liter) in mothers taking up to 150 mg/day. In one excellent study of 11 mother/infant pairs, the zoloft was undetectable in 7 of the 11 breastfeeding infants' serum and minimal in the other infants. In two other studies of one and three mother/infant pairs respectively, zoloft was undetectable in the plasma of all 4 infants. A theoretical concern with Zoloft is that some babies may not gain weight as rapidly or as well when breastfed by moms on Zoloft; so weight gain should be monitored and dosage tweaked as necessary.

Some people taking Zoloft might have some side effects. The most common Zoloft side effects are dry mouth, insomnia, *sexual side effects, diarrhea, nausea and sleepiness. Not everyone gets side effects.