Table 5-9.
Drugs in Maternal Circulation Known to Pose Potential Health Problems for the Breast-Feeding Infant
| Drugs | Drugs | Environmental Contaminants |
|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Autonomic drugs | Dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) |
| Ethyl biscoumacetate | Atropine | Polybromated biphenyls (PBBs) |
| Phenindione | Laxatives | Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) |
| Anticonvulsants | Anthraquinone derivatives (Dialose Plus, Dorbane, Doxidon, Peri-Colace) | Heptachlor |
| Mysoline | Mirex | |
| Phenobarbital | Lead | |
| Phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin) | Aloe | Radioisotopes |
| Carbamazepine | Calomel | Caffeine |
| Antidepressants | Cascara | Food proteins |
| Lithium | Narcotics | Nicotine |
| Antihypertensives | Heroin | Cadmium |
| Reserpine | Methadone | Alcohol |
| Antimetabolites | Oral contraceptives | |
| Cyclophosphamide | Pain killers | |
| Methotrexate | Propoxyphene (Darvon) | |
| Antimicrobials | Sedatives | |
| Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) | Barbiturates | |
| Bromides | ||
| Metronidazole (Flagyl) | Chloral hydrate | |
| Tinidazole | Diazepam (Valium) | |
| Nalidixic acid | Steroids | |
| Nitrofurantoina | Prednisone | |
| Sulfonamidesa | Prednisolone | |
| Antithyroid drugs | Miscellaneous | |
| Iodide | Dihydrotachysterol (DHT) | |
| Thiouracil | Ergot alkaloids | |
| Radioactive iodine | Gold thioglucose | |
a
This drug causes problems mainly in infants suffering from the inherited deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Adapted from Packard VS. Human milk and infant formula. In Stewart GE (ed). Food and Science Technology Series. New York, Academic Press, 1982, p 118, with permission.