LactMed Database: Trusted Drug Safety Info for Nursing Mothers

When you're breastfeeding and need medication, you don't just ask LactMed database, a free, science-backed resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine that tracks how drugs pass into breast milk and affect infants. Also known as ToxNet Lactation, it's the go-to tool for doctors, pharmacists, and moms who need clear answers—not guesses. This isn't just another drug guide. It's the only database built specifically for breastfeeding safety, updated daily with new studies, real-world case reports, and dosing data tied to infant exposure levels.

It covers everything from common painkillers like ibuprofen to antidepressants like sertraline, antibiotics like amoxicillin, and even rare drugs used for autoimmune conditions. You’ll find exact numbers: how much of the drug shows up in milk, how much the baby absorbs, and what side effects have been seen in infants. It doesn’t say "maybe safe"—it says "no reported adverse effects in 120 cases" or "infant serum levels below detectable limits." That’s the difference between fear and confidence.

Related entities like maternal drug use, the practice of taking medications while breastfeeding, including timing, dosage, and monitoring, and lactation pharmacology, the science of how drugs move from mother to milk to baby are core to how LactMed works. It doesn’t just list drugs—it explains why some cross into milk easily, why others don’t, and why timing matters. For example, taking a drug right after nursing can cut infant exposure by 80%. LactMed tells you exactly when to dose.

And it’s not just for prescriptions. The database includes herbs, supplements, and even over-the-counter cold meds. You’ll see warnings like "ashwagandha may increase milk supply but could affect thyroid function in the infant" or "pseudoephedrine can reduce milk production in some women." These aren’t opinions. They’re pulled from clinical studies, case reports, and pharmacokinetic models.

What you won’t find here is marketing fluff or vague advice. No "consult your doctor" without data. No "some people say." Just facts: plasma levels, milk concentrations, infant doses in mg/kg, and documented outcomes. If a drug has zero reported harm after 500 exposures, LactMed says so. If one case showed a baby with drowsiness, it’s there too.

Doctors use this database to make real-time decisions. Pharmacists rely on it when filling prescriptions for new moms. And countless mothers have used it to stop worrying and start nursing with peace of mind—even when taking meds for depression, high blood pressure, or chronic pain.

Below, you’ll find real-world posts that tie directly into what LactMed covers: drug interactions during breastfeeding, how supplements affect milk supply, what happens when you combine thyroid meds with herbal products, and how to safely manage conditions like OCD or gout while nursing. These aren’t random articles—they’re the practical applications of the data LactMed provides. Whether you’re a new mom, a clinician, or just someone trying to understand what’s safe, this collection gives you the tools to make smart, informed choices.