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Can a nursing mom take antiviral medications?

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 07.06.2024
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Drug therapy during lactation presents a number of difficulties. Let's consider its features, safe and contraindicated drugs, rules of their use.

If a nursing mother is sick, her treatment causes some difficulties, because some medicines are not recommended for use during lactation. This is due to the fact that after ingestion, the drug enters the gastrointestinal tract, then into the systemic bloodstream and milk. That is, during lactation, the child receives the active components of the drug together with food. In this case, the drugs penetrate into the milk in small doses and in most cases do not accumulate in it.

Medications that have these properties will pass into breast milk:

  • High plasma concentrations.
  • Low molecular weight <500, allows easy passage through the alveolar barrier.
  • Low ability to form protein compounds.

The concentration of medicines in milk is constantly changing and depends on their amount in the mother's blood. That is, decanting before feeding makes no sense. The older the child is, the faster the medicine is eliminated from his body.

If drug therapy is necessary, the doctor will select drugs that are compatible with breastfeeding. Incompatible include: tetracyclines, Chloramenicol, Ergotamine, Aspirin, Amiodarone, contraceptives and drugs that suppress lactation. Herbal medicines based on senna, sage are also not recommended.

In the absence of a safe medication, discontinuation of breastfeeding may be indicated for the duration of treatment. Many doctors recommend weaning the baby temporarily when prescribing potent medications, as this may disrupt the baby's intestinal microflora.

Can remantadine be taken by a breastfeeding mom?

Chemotherapeutic agent with pronounced antiviral activity. Inhibits replication of viruses at early stages, inhibits the synthesis of their envelopes. Demonstrates activity against influenza viruses. After oral administration, the drug is rapidly absorbed in the GI tract. Metabolized in the liver, 1/5 of the taken dose is excreted unchanged with urine within 72 hours.

  • Indications for use: treatment and prevention of influenza in children and adults in the epidemic season, tick-borne viral encephalitis.
  • How to use: tablets are taken orally after meals, drinking water. Course of treatment - a month, 1 capsule per day.
  • Side effects: dyspeptic disorders, diarrhea, skin allergic reactions, drowsiness, attention deficit disorder, agitation, tinnitus, hoarseness of voice.
  • Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the drug components, acute kidney and liver diseases, thyrotoxicosis, pregnancy and lactation.
  • Overdose: hallucinations, arrhythmia, nausea and vomiting, CNS disorders. In case of appearance of such symptoms, an ambulance should be called. Physostigmine in a dose of 0.5-2 mg is used as an antidote.

Remantadine is contraindicated in lactating women. It penetrates into breast milk and can cause serious pathologies in the child's body. For prevention and treatment of influenza during breastfeeding, safer medicines should be selected.

Form of release: tablets for oral administration of 50 mg, 10 pieces in a blister of 3 blisters in a package.

Can breastfeeding moms drink anaferon?

Homeopathic remedy with immunomodulatory and antiviral properties. Activates humoral and cellular immunity, increases the level of antibodies, promotes the formation of interferon. Quickly eliminates respiratory and intoxication symptoms of acute respiratory infections and influenza. Reduces the risk of attachment of bacterial flora and the development of superinfection.

  • Indications for use: influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, complex therapy of bacterial and mixed infections, treatment and prevention of immunodeficiency states, herpetic and cytomegalovirus infection.
  • How to use: sublingually 3-6 times a day 1 capsule. Duration of treatment for 8-10 days. If the drug is used for prophylactic purposes, the duration of treatment is from 1 to 3 months.
  • Contraindications: intolerance to the components of Anaferon, pregnancy and lactation.
  • Side effects: allergic reactions to the drug components.

Anaferon is prohibited for lactating women. Contraindication is based on the negative effect of the drug components on the child's body. Antiviral drug increases the risk of allergic reactions in the baby, causes disorders in the functioning of the GI tract, impedes digestive processes. If a woman takes Anaferon, feeding should be stopped until the end of the course of treatment.

Form of release: sublingual tablets of 20, 40 pieces in a package.

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