Neurontin & Breastfeeding

Hi,

I checked Dr. Hale's website for you:

http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/medicationforumspage.html

Enter as a guest and look under the analgesics category and there's a post on neurontin. Dr. Hale specifically does studies on breastfeeding and medications so he's an expert in this area. Here's what he said:

Nothing has yet been published on Neurontin(gabapentin), however I know a number of moms who've used much higher doses and breastfed successfully.

We've done milk levels on a few mothers and levels are not excessively high, but I cannot tell you its absolutely safe.

It's dated from 2003 though, so his most recent copy of Medications and Mother's Milk might have it in there now. You could try calling someone from your local La Leche League and see if they can look it up for you.

This may sound silly, but ask your doctor if you can take higher amounts of calcium. I know people who have increased their Osteomatrix and it helps get rid of back pain!

http://K..myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=20681

Always safe. Always works. Always green.

I am a chiropractor of 20 + years and after about 10 years of practicing I found out how to actually correct spines, rather than just pain relief. I have treated many people with lower back pain (who have been everywhere else) with extremely successful results. If you are interested......I would love to talk with you about your history, treatments, etc to see if I might be able to help you. I am a breastfeeding advocate and would like to help you be able to nurse your little one without the worry of side effects from drugs and without pain, if possible. Just send me an email if you interested in talking. T.

there is a book "medications and mommys milk" or something. a la leche league should have it. find one near you www.llli.org - sometimes you have to look carefully, the list is alphabetical, but look for towns near you as well as the one you are in - its worth the look.
or see if the library has it (but its unlikely)

Here's the link to the Neurontin entry at the National Institutes of Health's Lact-med database:

http://tinyurl.com/2ec5ynj

It's written in medicalese so you might want to print it out and talk about it with your doctor. From what I read of it, I'd be comfortable taking it and nursing, although I might try to wait it out until the baby was older and eating solids too (by which point you'll REALLY need it, since you'll be lugging around a heavier baby!). But every person has to weigh the risks/benefits themselves!

Personally, I wouldn't chance it. I totally understand that you have a strong physical ailment but your little one is so tiny and even a small exposure is too much for my comfort. Heck, i wouldn't even take the birth control pills that you are supposed to be able to take when nursing because some of it does pass into the breastmilk. It just doesn't sound like they have the research to back up what you need to know.

Here is what the US approved label from the FDA says about using Neurontin while breast feeding:
Use in Nursing Mothers
Gabapentin is secreted into human milk following oral administration. A nursed infant could be exposed to a maximum dose of approximately 1 mg/kg/day of gabapentin. Because the effect on the nursing infant is unknown, Neurontin should be used in women who are nursing only if the
benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
http://media.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_neurontin.pdf

As much as I hated it, I had to stop nursing my daughter (second child) at 3 months to start chemo. It's a much different situation, but I'd not risk it with a drug like Neurontin that's SO potent unless you have the express blessing of your child's pediatrician.

When I wanted to go back on an anti-depressant after my first child, my OB appropriately referred me to the pediatrician who was looking out for my child's well-being in conjunction with my own. I opted not to resume the medication despite my desire to.

Good luck with your decision.

Don't know if you still need an answer but my dr is the same as my daughter's dr and he put me on neurontin 2 weeks ago because of chronic back pain. I take 100mg 3x a day, he is actually upping it on Friday. He said research says its safe. Hope this helps!