A schizophrenic woman,  early in pregnancy, is well-controlled on Navane
(phiothixene), and the assessment is that it would be unwise to wean her off
the medication during the pregnancy or afterwards.  She desires to
breast-feed. The PDR doesn't discuss lactation separately, but gives the usual
therapeutic orphan statement regarding use of the drug in children younger
than 12 years. Since there is an alternative to breast-feeding, but no
alternative to exposing the fetus to phiothixene during gestation, must we
urge that infant be formula-fed? Is this medication as bad as Lithium for the
breast-feeding infant? What would be included in an appropriate discussion of
risk/benefit? Is there any anectdotal information available?  Thank you.
Margaret Walker MD Hayward CA USA