Sedatives for facial palsy and breastfeeding

[VeronicaCake]

I've been having some very scary neurological problems in the last 24 hrs including slurred speech, aphasia and spasms in my arms, torso, legs and face. Have been to hospital and referred to neurologist as no one has clear idea what is going on. The consultant in the Medical Assessment Unit at the hospital prescribed diazepam to treat the facial spasms.

I'm currently breastfeeding 8.5mo DD. Dr's advice was simply to stop feeding her from tonight which is something I strongly want to avoid and which in practical terms is going to cause me a lot of discomfort.

Looking at lactmed it would appear taking diazepam and breastfeeding is a very bad idea but there are some other sedatives such as lorazepam which might be OK. But I can't find anything on the use of lorazepam to treat my symptoms.

Am really uncertain as to what to do next. I don't have a breastpump at home and am crap at hand expressing so pumping and dumping for the next 24 hours or so until we can buy another pump is not really a practical solution. Could defer taking the diazepam until we can get hold of a pump. Am also seeing GP on Tues morning so could hold off entirely until then and see if she thinks lorazepam or another safe sedative might work instead.

What would you guys do?

Veronica - I'm really sorry this is happening to you. Has the Dr given you any kind of diagnosis or time scale of the symptoms?

I looked up diazepam aka Valium on Thomas Hale's online forum (he produces a textbook/reference book called Medications & Mother's Milk that is used as a reference for Drs/pharmacists worldwide) and this is what I found:-

neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/discus/messages/56/7971.html?1146071790

It doesn't sound like it is a total no no especially given the data on Lactmed - the oldest baby quoted in those studies was 3.5m and presumably not on anything other than bm where as yours is 8.5m and on solids too (I'd imagine).

If you were really worried could you bf then take the meds and then give solids/water/formula if ness. for as long as poss before feeding again or take before bed if baby goes for a good stretch?

Unless of course you have been told to take the meds throughout the day then that wouldn't work

It looks like for a one off dose 6-8 hours wait is what would be rec. for a prem/newborn and you could resume as soon as you wanted for an older infant.

Obviously you can't rely on another mother over the internet for medical advice so I would recommend getting hold of Wendy at the Breastfeeding Network - she is a pharmacist as well as a bfing supporter/counsellor and she is very good at answering queries about the safety or otherwise of medications.

Good luck and I hope you start to feel better really soon.

Thanks that is really helpful. I have been told to take the tablets as required. But since they are only going to control a fraction of my symptoms I'm not really sure the game is worth the candle so to speak. I have a GP appointment tomorrow so will speak to her (I think she is a breastfeeding Mum too so will at least understand why just stopping isn't an option) and I've e-mailed BfN for advice too.

Lorazepam or clonazepam can be used as muscle relaxants I know so I would ask if you could use one of them instead.

Maybe consider a temporary switch to FF and pump and dump?