U.S. Warns Breast-Feeding Women About Drug
http://reuters.us.ed10.net/h/HYGQE/GDHM6/HK/NHI9
Breast-feeding women should not take the drug domperidone to boost milk
production, because it may put them at risk of serious heart problems and
sudden death,  the U.S. government warned on Monday.

Domperidone is touted on the Internet as a safe way to stimulate milk
production, because it may increase the amount of lactin, a hormone needed
for lactation. The drug is not approved in the United States but is sold in
other countries in intravenous and oral forms to treat stomach disorders.
The Food and Drug Administration said domperidone poses serious risks and is
not approved in any country for enhancing milk production.

Some people in other countries who were treated with the intravenous version
have experienced irregular heartbeats, cardiac arrest and sudden death, the
FDA said. "Because of the possibility of serious adverse effects, FDA
recommends that breast-feeding women not use domperidone to increase milk
production," an FDA statement said.

In many countries, the oral form of domperidone comes with a warming that
the drug is excreted in breast milk and the risks to breast-feeding infants
are unknown, the FDA said. The FDA said some women in the United States had
obtained domperidone from "compounding" pharmacies that prepare medicines
for patients from bulk ingredients or from foreign sources. The agency sent
warnings to six pharmacies and firms that it said were supplying domperidone
to tell them the sales were illegal. Regulators also alerted border
inspectors to watch for attempts to import domperidone and told them to
detain the drug if they find it.

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