Pain Drugs and Breastfeeding

Recently the FDA issued a statement warning breastfeeding moms about the dangers of taking pain medications containing codeine while nursing. According to the statement:

Nursing mothers who take codeine should watch their infants for increased sleepiness or other signs of overdose, federal health officials warned Friday.
The Food and Drug Administration warning of the rare but serious side effect was prompted by a 2006 report of the death of a nursing infant whose mother was given codeine for episiotomy pain. Genetic testing later showed the woman’s body converted the codeine to morphine more rapidly and completely
than in other people. That led to higher-than-expected morphine levels in her breast milk.

Signs of overdose in your infant include: increased sleepiness, difficulty breastfeeding, difficulty with breathing, and limpness.

Pain Drugs and Breastfeeding