To      : Obrigada
Re      : Ketamine


Ketamine is a nonbarbiturate anesthetic/analgesic agent.  The elimination
half-life of ketamine is 2-3 hours.

Adverse effects associated with ketamine include emergence phenomena (vivid
dreams,hallucinations, delirium), cardiovascular stimulation (tachycardia,
hypertension), hypersalivation, elevation of intracranial and intraocular
pressures, nausea, vomiting, skeletal muscle hyperactivity, nystagmus, and skin
rash; respiratory depression is not usually observed.

Interestingly,  the half-life of ketamine in children has ranged from 1 to 2
hours, suggestive of more rapid elimination than in adults.

Ketamine is primarily used for short procedures, such as setting bones, minor
surgery, etc.  Ketamine is actually derived from PCP (phencyclidine, the
hallucinogen) and produces rather nasty side effects on awakening,  which is
the reason it is not widely used.

There is no data on its transfer to milk, but I would assume it does, and that
a minimum waiting period (pump and dump) of at least 12-18 hours should be
observed.


----------------------------------------------


To      :Andrea Eastman
Re      : Psorcon, Dovonex, Diprolene

Diflorasone(Psorcon) is a high potency topical steroid. It is unlikely that
enough would be absorbed systemically, and transferred to milk, to produce
untoward effects in an BFing infant. But no data is available on its transfer
to milk.

Calcipotriene(Dovonex) is a synthetic Vitamin D3 analog. About 6% of the
topical dose is systemically absorbed.  This in some instances can produce
problems in adults, hypercalcemia, etc.  Vitamin D3 transfers to milk in
proportion to that of the maternal plasma level.  If this product were used in
a small circumscribed area, it might not produce high enough maternal levels to
harm a BFing infant.  But if the areas are large and widespread,  then the D3
dose may be excessive.  Caution is urged with this product.

Diprolene is just another high potency topical steroid.  If the area is small
and not widespread, it is unlikely that amount absorbed would produce problems
in a Bfing infant.  Remember, steroids don't generally transfer into milk at
high levels.


-----------------------------------------

To      : Marsha Miller
Re      : Fennel Teas

Fennel teas contail a number of substances such as trans-anethole, fenchone,
limonene, camphor, etc which are contained in the oils of the plant.

Extracts of the plant contain a strong estrogenic substance which has produced
signficant changes in the genital organs of rodents where they have been
studied.  Fennel has been reported to increase milk secretion, promote
menstruation, facillitate birth, ease the male climacteric (rather dubious
terms)  and increase the libido.  These properties led to its study for its
estrogenic substances which are belived to be due to  a polymer of anethole,
such as dianethole or photoanethole.  The volatile oil of fennel increases the
phasic contraction of ileal and tracheal smooth muscle, which may account for
its use in GI problems.

Ingestion of the volatile oil may induce nausea, vomiting, seizures, pulmonary
edema, and liver failure. Its use in Morocco has been reported to induce
seizures and hallucinations.

Fennel oil was found to induce DNA dysfunction in bacteria.  Estragole, present
in fennel oil, has been shown to cause tumors in animals.

Italian fennel has been found contaminated with various aerobic bacteria such
as coliforms, streptococci, salmonella, etc.

Further,  due to similarities, fennel is often mistaken for poison hemlock, and
cases of hemlock poisoning have been reported.

So I would be really cautious with this product !!!!

Source: Lawrence Review of Natural Products

Regards

Tom Hale, Ph.D.