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UK
Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service
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Corticosteroids
| Drugs |
Suitability
for use in lactation |
Comments |
| Corticosteroids
generally appear only in low levels in milk. Prefer inhaled route
in asthmatics. Depot injections unlikely to pose a hazard to the
infant.
No
data for IV high dose corticosteroids.
If
topical corticosteroids applied to the breast area should be washed
and dried before feeding and preparation reapplied afterwards. |
| Corticosteroids |
Dexamethasone |
|
No
data available
|
| |
Fludrocortisone |
|
No
data available. Exposure via breast milk best avoided unless infant
monitoring can be performed. |
| |
Methyl
prednisolone
oral
IV
depot injection
|
Yes
?
Yes |
Limited data on long-term use indicates low levels in milk with no
apparent adverse effects
No data available
Minimal levels in milk expected |
| |
Prednisolone
oral
IV
|
Yes
? |
Low levels in milk. For single daily doses of over 40mg allow 4 hours
post-dose before feeding.
No data available |
| |
Other
systemic corticosteroids |
|
No
data available |
| |
Topical
corticosteroids |
|
But
see general note above |
Drugs
classified with '?' should be used with caution and only after an assessment
of benefit to the mother versus risk, real or potential, to the infant.
These drugs either have insufficient clinical data on their use in lactation
to regard as absolutely safe or they have had minor, reversible side effects
reported in a breast-fed infant.
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