Doctors may consider prescribing medicines for breastfeeding women during the postpartum period. Breastfeeding women can use most medicines at the recommended dose safely. However, there are exceptions which necessitate caution. This article provides a list of reputable resources regarding the use of medications for breastfeeding women.
The Medicines Information Centres listed in the table below are helpful to provide current information about the use of medicines during breastfeeding (or pregnancy).
| Mother’s Location | Service | Telephone (BH) |
| ACT | 1300 MEDICINE | 1300 633 424 |
| NSW | MotherSafe, Royal Hospital for Women Randwick |
02 9382 6539 (Sydney Metro)
1800 647 848 (NSW country) |
| QLD | 1300 MEDICINE | 1300 633 424 |
| SA | Medicines Information Centre Women’s and Children’s Hospital |
08 8161 7555 |
| TAS | 1300 MEDICINE | 1300 633 424 |
| VIC | Medicines Information Centre Royal Women’s Hospital Medicines Information Centre |
03 8345 3190
03 9594 2361 |
| WA | Women & Newborn Health Services (KEMH) | 08 6458 2723 |
| All states & territories | NPS Medicines Line (9 am-5 pm AEST) | 1300 633 424 |
Poisons Information is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week on 13 11 26 (all states & territories)
Further reputable resources include:
- Lactmed, a free online database with information on drugs and lactation aimed at health professional and the breastfeeding mother
- Perinatology.com, a reference page with a number of links about drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Infant risk centre, a forum for questions from health professionals, but anyone can use the site as a guest
Finally, here are some links to research papers on the topic of medicines and breastfeeding:
- Hanley, L. (2020) Medication use during lactation: either a potential contributor to premature weaning or evidence-based support of the mother/child couplet.
- Momper, J.D. (2020) Clinical lactation studies and the role of pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation in predicting drug exposures in breastfed infants.
- Amir, L.H., Grzeskowiak, L. & Kam, R .(2020) Ethical issues in use of medications during lactation.
- Datta, P., Baker, T., Hale, T.W. (2019) Balancing the use of medications while maintaining breastfeeding.
- McGuire, T.M. (2018) Drugs affecting milk supply during lactation.
- McClatchey AK, Shield A, Cheong LH, Ferguson SL, Cooper GM, Kyle GJ. (2017) Why does the need for medication become a barrier to breastfeeding? A narrative review.
- Davanzo R, Bua J, De Cunto A,Farina ML De Ponti F, Clavenna A, Mandrella S, Sagone A, Clementi M (2017) Advising Mothers on the use of medications during breastfeeding: a need for a positive attitude.
- Saha, M.R., Ryan, K. & Amir, L.H. (2015) Postpartum women’s use of medicines and breastfeeding practices: a systematic review.
- Amir, L.H., Pirotta, M.V. & Ravall, M. (2011) Breastfeeding evidence based guidelines for the use of medicines.
