Olanzapine

[Summergirl]

Hi there

I've seen a few posts on here that breastfeeding wasn't recommended while taking olanzapine. My doctors said it was fine. Any advice?

[rose89]

Hi

I too have been told that, depending on the dose required, I will be able to breastfeed my second child if I need to take medication. I think with olanzapine there might be a requirement to express and discard but I'm sure others on here will be able to give you better informed informatio . Best of luck x

[Hidden]

I was on olanzapine and told I couldn't breastfeed and the hospital wouldn't even entertain expressing (to dump) until such a time my meds stopped or became safe

[TraceyR72 Volunteer]

Hi Summergirl, I had PP after my first baby, so a preventative plan was drawn up during my 2nd pregnancy. I was determined to breastfeed and olanzapine was the medication that was identified for me to take preventatively after the birth. I did take it for about 3 months and I did breastfeed with no ill effects, except possibly the baby sleeping more than usual, but putting on weight OK and reaching milestones etc without a problem. She developed perfectly normally and now is a healthy and happy 6 year old. I'm pretty sure all perinatal psychiatrists recommend it as the safest antipsychotic so try not to worry.

Oh, and I didn't get PP again with 2nd baby but did get postnatal depression when she was 9 weeks old. I think the olanzapine did its job as an antipsychotic though.

Good luck x

[BronSyd]

The recommendations for medication and breastfeeding often change with more research. They often err on the side of caution. It can be a matter of dosage but also the time between taking the medication and feeding. They are finding more and more that many medications fit within the acceptable levels of risk. I know when I was taking sodium valporate (a mood stabiliser) that my son's liver functions were tested. So they can also monitor some medications effects.

Good luck with it all.

[Naomi_at_app Volunteer]

Hi Summergirl

It is a minefield out there isn't it with lots of different advice! Our local perinatal psychiatrist recommends the express and discard feeds through the night method (feed as usual during the day), but as others have said this may well depend on the dose you are taking. It was good to hear from TraceyR72 that her experience was positive with breastfeeding and taking Olanzapine.

A good up-to-date site to check is the Choice and Medication website here:

choiceandmedication.org/ncmh/

Let us know how you get on, and well done for putting plans in place in advance. It's always worth getting the best information you can, and giving yourself the choice of both breastfeeding and taking medication if this is what you want. We always say to mums too, though, that if you find you aren't able to breastfeed for whatever reason please don't feel guilty. You can feed in bed with baby close to your skin, tops off if you want while you are bottle feeding (lots of adoptive mums are recommended to do this to help with bonding) and it's not a failure in any way to put your mental health first if breastfeeding is exhausting you or you need to up your dose of medication.

Thinking of you - and wondering if you've seen our guide for mums thinking about pregnancy?

app-network.org/wp-content/...

All the best

Naomi

[CathDuff]

I fed for 10 months on Olanzapine. My doctor said the benefits outweighed the risks. The feeding, bonding, relaxation and love hormones it releases really helped me through the horrible time. X

[Flowerfern]

I breastfed while on olanzapine - I've been told that the levels of the drug in my breastmilk would have been undetectable on testing and it was safe for bubs. I was on a twice a day dose so no expressing and dumping was suggested but I was practically unconscious at night while recovering so we (or should I say my husband!) formula fed then anyway.