Doctors in the US will not allow mothers taking lithium to breastfeed,
though I hear some European docs are more comfortable with it.  Lithium
is very toxic, and needs to be monitored carefully.  It works best for
the mania component of bipolar disorder.  Carbamazepine (tegretol) seems
to work for  bipolar disorder for some women and is compatible with
breastfeeding.  Olanzapine (sp?) (Zyprexa) is particularly effective for
bipolar mania,  and I recently read something about it probably being
okay for breastfed babies exposed through milk.

Again, the mom in question had particular difficulty with bipolar
depression, and lamotrigine (Lamictal) is the current favorite for that
indication.

I hope this mom can find something that works for herself that allows
her to breastfeed her baby as well.
Catherine Watson Genna, BS, IBCLC  NYC

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