Cindy,
A couple of weeks ago I emailed both the Good Housekeeping health editor,
Toni Hope (although I heard a rumor that she was leaving -- may be someone
else now) and the general "letters to the editor" address
([log in to unmask]) about this article, but received no response. A
copy of my email is below.
I just read the article again, and I wonder whether the two sources quoted
were taken out of context -- and if so, would be interested in knowing
about it!. Neither one specifically talks about domperidone, and as we all
know, if a new mom isn't producing enough milk, it's a red flag for many
things other than a pituitary or thyroid disorder (for those who haven't
read the article, that's what the MD quote is about). Dr. Perrin, a
pharmacist, has written in pharmacy journals about compounding. Dr. Eglash
is herself an IBCLC (who used to post on Lactnet) and a past president of
the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Even if she doesn't think women
should be buying domperidone off the Internet, perhaps she too would agree
to write a letter to GH about the article's inaccuracies and sensational
tone? The email address I found for her is [log in to unmask] I
can write her about the situation unless, Cindy, you would prefer to do it
since it's your website that's involved -- just let me know!
Here's my email to the magazine:
<<As a board-certified lactation consultant, I was dismayed to read the
inaccurate information about the drug domperidone on page 69 of your
January issue.
It is indeed true that the American Academy of Pediatrics has approved
domperidone as being compatible with breastfeeding. Their complete policy
statement regarding the transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human
milk can be found at http://www.aap.org/policy/0063.html; domperidone is
listed in Table 6. No, of course the AAP doesn’t approve drugs *for
release onto the market,* but neither does Good Housekeeping – yet I
noticed that Good Housekeeping has approved several drugs for inclusion on
its “Good Housekeeping Seal” list on page 121 of this same issue.
Moreover, it is definitely not illegal to obtain or to use domperidone in
the United States. Why would the AAP, a conservative group, have given it
the green light if it were? Compounding pharmacies, which are located
throughout the U.S., will dispense it with a doctor’s prescription.
I certainly agree, as will any other lactation consultant, that
domperidone is not the first thing – or even the second or third – to try
when a mother is having milk supply problems, and I’ve never come across
any reference to domperidone that says that it is. But it can be very
helpful to some women, particularly those who have had breast reduction
surgery or are nursing premature, hospitalized, or adopted infants. I urge
you to clarify the information about this drug for your readers.
[closing, phone #]>>
Jennifer Herrin, RN, IBCLC
Germany
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