Help! Salbutamol inhaler and breastfeeding?

[neverquitesure]

Ok so the 'help!' might be a little over dramatic, I'm not dying here, but I have just been given one by the Prescribing Nurse at our surgery and completely forgot to mention that I'm still breastfeeding my 2 year old DD.

It's the Airomil Autohaler and the active ingredient is Salbutamol Sulfate. The patient info says to ask your doctor's advice and Dr Google says that it passes into breast milk.

I have a feeling there is a website or phone service that can help, but can I find it? Can I heck!

Can anyone help?

neverquitesure - You want the Drugs in Breastmilk helpline - here.

I have salbutamol inhalers for my asthma and am bfing but please don't just take my word for it!

Oh that's brilliant, just what I was after thank you. I have emailed them.

Update: I had a reply from the Drugs in Breastmilk Helpline earlier this evening (very impressed!) and thought I'd post my email and their reply in case it helps anyone else.

My email:

I have just been given an Airomil Autohaler (active ingredient Salbutamol Sulfate) from the Prescribing Nurse at our GP practice and completely forgot to mention that I'm still breastfeeding my 2.5 year old daughter.

The dose on the inhaler is 2 puffs as needed up to a maximum of 4 times per day. I have never used an inhaler before so have no idea how many times I will use it in practice. My daughter usually has just 2 feeds per day but has her molars coming through at the moment and has been complaining of a sore mouth and wanting extra comfort feeds.

Many thanks for your help.

Reply:

I am the pharmacist providing information on the safety of drugs in breastmilk and your email was forwarded to me.

Your little one will be exposed to virtually none of the salbutamol as it is only absorbed through the lungs so you need a small dose. We give pretty much the same dose to children with asthma via inhalers as well. In the meantime your breastmilk is providing protection against asthma so you win all round. Use it as often as you need to relieve the symptoms

Glad to hear you got a swift (and favourable!) reply

my DD was prescribed a normal salbutamol inhaler at 6m old

same inhaler as mine and same dose

so if they can take the whole dose then im sure i micro trace in BM isnt going to hurt

nannyl - they have less receptors for the salbutamol when they are young (that's why they don't prescribe it under 6m as there isn't enough receptors for it to work) hence the same dosages.

DD1 & DD2 have both had/have asthma and they have had directions for 10 puffs 4 hourly pretty frequently (at her worst DD3 has had hourly nebs which = 25 puffs a go!) whereas I can only have 2 puffs before my heart goes funny and I feel like I will pass out.

wow, truthsweet, i never knew that

that can be the new thing i have learnt today