Which antidepressant can I take during breastfeeding?
March 25, 2013 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring
Hello. I have been taking sertraline daily for 4 years, and have had to increase the dose approximately every year, and am now at 100mg per day. I suffer from bulimia. Initially, sertraline worked very well, but over the 4 years I have experienced periods of extreme appetite, very strong depressive and aggressive behavior, and then the opposite. The last phase lasted for 3 months, after which I increased the dose to 100mg on my own. I am not consistently stable on sertraline. I am now considering switching medications. Which antidepressant (perhaps fluoxetine) can I take for bulimia that does not cause an increase in appetite and can also be taken during breastfeeding (I am only nursing my son to help him fall asleep)? And how can I switch from sertraline to another medication? I hope I am not asking too much! Thank you in advance.
Hello,
You are not asking too much, but rather too optimistic, because it is simply medically negligent to simply recommend a medication to you! Furthermore, "remote therapy" is not allowed.
With the exception of St. John's Wort, for which there is not enough data for nursing mothers, most antidepressants are possible during breastfeeding. For you, all medications in the SSRI group would be suitable. However, only the psychiatrist on site can determine which one is the best fit for you.
Since all antidepressants pass into breast milk, and you only breastfeed your son for comfort in the evening, the "strict indication" that is required for antidepressants during breastfeeding is not met. That's why I would recommend weaning now, considering the potential burden on your baby, even if it may be a bit difficult at first.
I wish you all the best!
Warm regards,
Dr. Höllering, Specialist in Internal Medicine and General Medicine, Psychosomatics
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