LactMed Database: Trusted Drug Safety Info for Nursing Mothers

When you're breastfeeding, every pill, patch, or injection matters—not just for you, but for your baby too. That’s where the LactMed database, a free, science-backed resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine that tracks which drugs are safe to use while breastfeeding. Also known as ToxNet Lactation, it’s the go-to tool for doctors, pharmacists, and moms who need clear answers about medication safety during nursing. Unlike general drug guides, LactMed doesn’t just list side effects—it tells you how much of a drug actually gets into breast milk, how likely it is to affect the baby, and what the real-world outcomes have been in thousands of cases.

This isn’t theoretical. It’s practical. If you’re on antidepressants like sertraline, pain meds like ibuprofen, or even something as common as thyroid pills like levothyroxine, LactMed tells you whether they’re low-risk or need caution. It breaks down the science without jargon: how the drug is absorbed, how long it stays in your system, whether it builds up in your baby’s body, and what alternatives exist. You won’t find fluff here—just data from peer-reviewed studies, case reports, and clinical experience. And it’s updated constantly. When a new study comes out showing that a drug once thought safe might carry a small risk, LactMed updates its entry within weeks.

It also connects to real-life decisions. For example, if you’re dealing with postpartum depression and your doctor suggests fluoxetine, LactMed shows you that while it’s detectable in milk, most babies show no symptoms. But if you’re on lithium, it flags that levels can rise in the baby’s blood and recommends monitoring. It even lists drugs to avoid entirely, like certain chemotherapy agents or radioactive compounds. The database doesn’t just answer yes-or-no questions—it helps you weigh trade-offs. Is the benefit of your medication worth the tiny risk? LactMed gives you the facts so you can talk to your provider with confidence.

What you’ll find below is a collection of posts that touch on the same core issue: how medications interact with your body during vulnerable times—whether you’re managing thyroid levels, treating depression, or controlling blood pressure while nursing. These aren’t random articles. They’re real-world examples of how drug safety, dosing, and alternatives play out in daily life. Whether you’re looking at how to safely use beta blockers like betaxolol for glaucoma, or whether antidepressants like Zoloft are compatible with breastfeeding, the answers often lead back to LactMed. This page brings together the tools, the data, and the decisions that help you stay healthy—and keep your baby safe.