• Frank J Nice and Amy C Luo.
• Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD, USA. frank.nice@fda.hhs.gov
• J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2012 Jan 1;52(1):86-94.

ObjectivesTo describe the various factors that come into play when a breast-feeding mother is taking medications, including use of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, recreational drugs, galactogogues, and herbal remedies and to provide a framework used for counseling breast-feeding women.SettingCommunity and hospital pharmacy and health care settings.Practice DescriptionConsultative services provided to breast-feeding mothers who had been prescribed or were using medications.Main Outcome MeasuresUse of pharmacokinetic factors, maternal and child factors, a list of questions to ask breast-feeding mothers, and a stepwise approach to counsel breast-feeding mothers on the compatibility of using medications while breast-feeding.ResultsBy positive intervention of pharmacists and health care providers, up to 1 million breast-feeding mothers, who must use medications, can continue to breast-feed while taking medications.ConclusionObjectively weighing the benefits of drugs and breast-feeding versus the risks of drugs and not breast-feeding, in most cases, allows for pharmacists to give current and practical advice to mothers and other health professionals who counsel mothers.

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