A rare phenomenom has occurred in the medical literature pertaining to
mother's medication use during breastfeeding, and I thought some of you
would appreciate the information.  Mammen OK et al published a manuscript
entitled "Sertraline and norsertraline levels in three breastfed infants"
in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry March 1997;58(3):100-3.  These
investigators state that trace concentrations of sertraline and its
metabolite, norsertraline, were detected in the infants' plasma while
the moms were treated with 50-100mg/day of sertraline.  Also "It is
questionable whether these trace concentrations of drug found in thriving
infants showing no adverse effects" from the mom's drug therapy is
problematic.  Of course one must "weigh the benefits of breastfeeding
against the unkown risk of exposure to antidepressant medication."
Finally, "mothers and their treating clinicians must decide whether to
continue antidepressant medication and breastfeeding."  At least this
group did not say you should not take this medication and breastfeed, and
personally, I think that is a step forward in the medical literature.

Julie Cold Kissack


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Julie Cold, Pharm.D., BCPP                      office # 770 986-3208
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice        fax #    770 986-3384
Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy   digital beeper 404 225-2404
Atlanta, GA. 30341
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