Breastfeeding on 5mg of Olanzapine

[lizziebennet]

Had anyone breastfed on Olanzapine? For how long? Anyone who did so with older kids now? I breastfed my 2nd child with it for roughly 13 weeks and he is OK but I did stop because I was worried about the medications and breastfeeding. Did anyone breastfeed and keep on breastfeeding while on Olanzapine for a longer length of time. Last time I was on it for about 18 months.

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello lizziebennett

Good to hear from you. I wasn’t able to breastfeed my sons as I was separated from them due to early onset of PP. I did take a number of medications but Olanzapine wasn’t one of them as my episodes were many years ago.

There will be other mums here with lots of supportive replies but for now I wonder if the Related Posts at the side of your post on the forum page might be helpful? Although the post “ Unsure to try breastfeeding with No 2, given that I’ll be taking Olanzapine as a preventative .....” is from a while ago, it might give you some reassurance. Take care. 🌻

[Rachel_at_APP Partner APP]

Hello lizziebennet, thanks for your post here. I’m Rachel, part of the peer support team at the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis.

I had PP and did breastfeed whilst on medication, yes. But I don’t know about Olanzapine specifically and breastfeeding I’m afraid. When I was breastfeeding and on medication, my son was monitored to look for any potential adverse affects, for example drowsiness because of my medication. This support and advice from the health professionals offered me reassurance, so I hope you and your little one also had a good team around you both.

There may be volunteers and members of the forum able to share their experiences too, but with medication specifically, often the best thing to do if you have questions is to ask the medical professionals supporting you.

Hope you’re ok. And have a good weekend ahead. Rachel x

[Seasky18 Volunteer]

Hi lizziebennet

I breastfed my son on Olanzapine, but while I fed him until he weaned naturally, I didn't feed while on the medication for very long as as I was able (gradually) to come off it with the support of my healthcare team (not because of the breastfeeding but because of how the medication made me feel). My son was premature and my feeding and medication schedule was organised so that I pumped and used pumped milk when the medication was at its peek in my bloodstream, but I believe the guidance since has changed.

If you have any concerns at all you can find out more here breastfeeding-and-medicatio... - Dr Wendy Jones is the amazing lady behind it all.

There's a factsheet here which identifies olanzapine s895428841.websitehome.co.u...

If you have access to Facebook you can send them a message here and get some detailed information facebook.com/BreastfeedingN...

The one thing I would say is healthcare professionals are widely resistant to prescribing breastfeeding mothers medication and often mothers have to fight to get things that are actually very safe to take, so if you have been prescribed it and have been told it is safe to feed, then they are going to be very certain that's the case.

However, I also totally understand your feelings of concern, I felt the same - a background worry 'what if' but I also reminded myself then as I do now that there are so so many benefits to breastfeeding. There is much additional benefit in building your baby's gut microbiome and your milk is continually tailored for your baby's individual needs on any given day in a way a substitute milk can never replicate, not to mention the bonding benefits. The benefits are so varied and long lasting, and it was thinking of those benefits that helped keep my own anxiety in check.

Whatever you decide to do, every drop you manage to feed is an amazing achievement. Sending you big love x

[Essex1982]

breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk...

[Essex1982 in reply to Essex1982]

sps.nhs.uk/medicines/olanza...

[rimhoff]

Hi, I was able to breastfeed on it for a year and then thankfully I was able to stop the medicine. From everything I was told and read, it was completely safe. I never noticed any side effects with my baby and it was the best way to keep me safe.

[lizziebennet]

Did you take any other medication with the Olanzapine?

[lizziebennet]

How old is your baby now?

[Isabella5991]

Hello,

I breastfeed on risperidone and sertraline for two years. My little girl is great! Risperidone is moderately safe and was told to stop breastfeeding by one male psychiatrist, but I spoke to a perinatal ward and they said lots of women breastfeed on risperidone. Can you phone your doctor and ask to speak to a perinatal ward about breastfeeding on olanzapine? I’m not sure how safe that one is I’m afraid xx

[lizziebennet]

Thank you for replying. Right now l am only breastfeeding on Olanzapine.