are beta-blockers safe to take when bfeeding?

[Viv21]

I am new to mumsnet but would be grateful for some help. I have a 4 month old baby son who is adorable but I have recently been suffering bad anxiety and panic. I don't feel depressed as such, although the fear of feeling anxious is really getting me down. My gp has prescribed beta blockers and I did tell him I was feeding but can anyone reasure me that they are safe to take when breast feeding?

Is this post natal depression? I am under quite a lot of stress with the new baby and my daughter (4) and have recently had some upsetting family news but usually I can take things in my stride.

I would really appreciate it if anyone would take the time to answer. Thanks.

Hi, Viv
Sorry you're feeling anxious after your birth ? I know the feeling only too well!
Really, your doc ought to have asked you about b/feeding, as your pregnancy/birth must have been on your medical notes ? you probably even had your baby on your lap when you went to see him ? naughty doctor! Sometimes they just don't think. Could you ring the surgery just to check?
If there is a problem, there are other things you can take for anxiety, if breastfeeding, so go back. It is quite common, but that's not to say it's something you should have to put up with.
Is your health visitor sympathetic? It might be worth talking it over with her if you fear you might be succombing to pnd.
Do keep us posted and let us know how you are.

I have just looked it up in my rather old copy of the British National Formulary. It says to monitor the infant is case there is an effect but that the amounts sectreted in the milk are too low to have an effect on the child. If you are worried contact the manufacturer of the drug (should be listed on the paient information leaflet) and ask to be put through to the medical information department. They may be able to give you more information on the specific drug you are taking. If they don't help have a chat with your pharmacist, as they should have some information on the subject.

HTH

Hi Viv
I'm also new to mumsnet so hopefully this message won't go horribly wrong. I'm breastfeeding my 11 week old and am taking labetalol, which is an alpha and beta blocker. I've been taking it since he was born (so it was prescribed by an obstetrician who knew I was bfing) because of high blood pressure and as a seriously neurotic new mum I've asked every doctor I've come across if it could harm my son as the info leaflet in the packet says breastfeeding while on the drug isn't recommended. Each one has reassured me that its OK to take it and to carry on bfing. Still paranoid I tried to research this on the internet and found, as hmb said, that the baby should be monitored for the effects of beta blockage (things like slowed heart beat or low blood sugar I think) but that this was very rare in any case (I think it might depend on the type of beta blocker though). Noone ever mentioned monitoring my ds but I asked about it when he had his six week check and the doctor told me that his heart sounded fine and he obviously didn't have low blood sugar.
Anyway what I'm trying to say with all this rambling is that its probably fine to take them while breastfeeding (from what I've been told) but if you're still worried you could check with your doctor or ask him/her to monitor your ds. I don't want to advise you about medical things in case I'm wrong as I'm obviously not an expert but this was my experience.
I really hope that you get the reassurance you need (there seems to be several mumsnetters who are either medically qualified or very knowledgable about bfing) and that you start to feel better soon whether you take the tablets or not : ).

Labetalol is in Hale, the international text book, called Medications and Mothers Milk. It is fine when bf - he looks at the evidence( lab stuff and in real mothers and babies as well) and gives it a safety rating of L2, which is 'safer'. There are no paediatric concerns about bf babies whose mothers use this drug. He suggests 'observe for hypotension, apnea' but he doesn't say 'monitoring' . The amount of drug secreted in the breast milk is 0.004 per cent of the dose!!! Vanishingly small....indeed, in one study of three mothers and babies, 2 of the babies had no measurable traces of it at all.

It's also approved by the American Acdemy of Pediatrics for use in bf mothers.

Sounds like you can relax about it

Thanks for that info Tiktok, you were one of the people I hoped would post!

You called....I answered

thanks so much, I only needed one 10mg pill as it happened - then my lovely health visitor came round and I cried at her for an hour and half and since then have felt tired but normal! Thanks so much for your advice, mumsnet is great. Thanks.

So glad you're feeling better Viv.