When can I start Breast Feeding again?

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Im breastfeeding my 7 week old baby and due to having a horrible attack of vertigo (have a long history of balance problems) had to take 15mg cinnarizine tablets for 24 hours, hospital, gp and pharmacist said under no circumstances can I breast feed until its left my system..but..none of them have a clue when this will be!...I havent taken anything for 36 hours and in the meantime ive expressed and dumped the milk and DD has hadexpressed milk and formula..she is getting so upset now though trying to latch on and Im getting upset too as all I want to do is feed her...looked on Kellymom but cinnarizine isnt available in the states so no literature available..did try the la leche league helpline but was unable to speak to anyone..I feel so misrable but Hospital said I could make her seriously ill if the drug hasnt left my system

Also looks like its called stugeron in the US?

right have phoned the national breast feeding helpline, spoke to a lovely lady who unfortunately didnt have the info on cinnarizine but advised to ring the specialist pharmacist..the one Id already tried who is on a training course..however she is going to text her supervisor who is on the training course with the pharmacist and ask her for the info..she said it may be sunday though before she can get back to me...so in the meantime will have to keep expressing..DH is working this weekend so I cant get him to take over so will have to roll with it..I just feel so cruel..and also upset that this particular health problem which Ive had for years and been very poorly with in the past has managed to put a dampner on such a special time for me

helly..yes its called Stugeron..thats the brand name..cinnarizne is the generic..will have a look at the link..you can buy it over the counter..its a travel sickness tablet..in the states they tend to use a varient called phenargen

Would a large teaching hospital not have a pharmacist who would know?( I'm trying to think of anything that might be helpful as I can imagine how you feel.)

It is really hard to listen to your baby cry, but do not give up breastfeeding you will have many more times to feed your baby once this is all over.

Yes give bottle to DP/DH if you can as she will rebel and just want breast from you, if she knows it is not an option she might accept bottle.

Just found this on google books in Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation, Gerald G Briggs et.al. 1998 - there are no reports describing use of cinnarizine during human lactation the molecular weight (369) and elimination half life (3-6 hours) suggest that the drug will be excreted into breastmilk. The effects of exposure on a nursing infant are unknown.

This is because they have no research on it even on animals there is not enough data from what I have found.

From Electronic Medicines Compendium under Cinnarizine Sturgeon 15 "The safety of Stugeron in human pregnancy has not been established although studies in animals have not demonstrated teratogenic effects. As with other drugs it is not advisable to administer Stugeron in pregnancy.

There are no data on the excretion of Stugeron in human breast milk. Use of Stugeron is not recommended in nursing mothers."

If half life is 3-6 hours from book then 15mg tablet if completely metabolised and plasma levels peak after 3 hours will be 7.5 after 9 hours, 3.75 after 15, 1.875 after 21, 0.9375 after 27, 0.46875 after 33 and 0.23mg after 39 hours and even less in breastmilk as it will not have same concentration as plasma. However drug information from EMC site says half life 4-24 hours, so it could take longer to come down to that level in plasma.

Call NHS Direct, they may be able to get a doctor to phone you back. 0845 46 47.

PS just saw that your DH is working this weekend are there any other family members/friends that can help temporarily for part of the day just so you can get a break, it can be hard to listen to your baby crying constantly, breaks your heart I know.

Going to bed now, hope you have an ok night and get an answer soon.

Un mumsnetty ((hugs))

Allsheeparewhite...cheers..sadly DH is working this weekend so will have to struggle on myself..I kind of feel like I failed taking the meds as I was taken off them in pregnancy but my health was fine anyway and I didnt need it..but I was so poorly..I couldnt move without vomiting so had to take it

Hugs from another vertigo sufferer I had a look on Lactmed for you but couldn't find anything for cinnarizine/stugeron, sorry. You didn't fail - you had to be able to function to look after her.

thanks princessmel

helly..hmm doubt that a pharmacist in a large teaching hospital would be any more likely to know tbh unless they were a lactation specialist and the pharmacies in large hosptals are quite often staffed by a large volume of trainee pharmacists who wouldnt have that knowledge (ex nurse in a large teaching hospital)

Sorry to hear that have experienced myself but luckily not for a while. Do not worry babies do not generally starve themselves, once he/she realises that is the only option he/she will give in reluctantly, it will just take perseverance and patience which is not easy when you are tired and have a crying baby. You have not failed, you could hardly care for your baby whilst vomiting and you will be able to feed your baby again soon.

thanks allsheep..she has gone to sleep...will keep on expressing until I hear from the lactation pharmacist

Glad to hear it memory, get some shut eye yourself whilst you can lack of sleep and patience don't go well together.

Do try La Leche League. One of my friends is on the helpline sometimes and I know she has a special book which lists all drugs and their effects on BF.

have just had a call from the lady from the breast feeding network,,the lactation pharmacist said its fine to feed, baby may just be a little sleepy so may need waking up..yay! DD will be very pleased to get her bedtime boob

Just a thought - could you call an overseas hospital such as in Australia or in NZ??? Somewhere in the right time zone???

oh I'm so pleased for you both! well doen

X posted - fab news!!!

Well that's good news!

Excellent result. Now about those NHS staff who always seem ready to put the frighteners on BF mothers. GRR. I just wish they'd take the time to inform mothers properly.

Yay! Lucky girl and lucky you, what a relief for you

am very happy..there will still be quite a bit in my system as had been taking 30 mg every 4 hours..but if worse case scenario is a sleepy baby..better than an unhappy one

Good news indeed.

When the dust settles, how about a formal letter to each of the poor sources of advice, plus whoever is the breastfeeding lead at your PCT, detailing their lack of information and support....and let them know you had to go to the internet and also a volunteer helpline to find out what to do.

It's a disgrace you had to do this

tiktok..am very tempted to do so..feel very let down..worst offenders were my gp and post natal ward..10/10 to the lovely lady from the breast feeding network who took the time to get the info for me and rang me back at gone ten o clock..baby girl is now happily tucked up asleep..and contented

oh and 100/10 to everyone who posted on here trying to help out with info..I wouldnt have been feeding dd tonight had it not been for you ladies