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Are Oxitol And Levipil Safe While Breastfeeding The Baby?

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Posted on Wed, 7 Jan 2015
Question: My wife delivered a baby . she was continuously using oxitol 450mg and levipil 500mg from last 4 years. Pls suggest breast feeding to baby is safe or not.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Decision on breast feeding

Detailed Answer:
HI..will discuss each drug separately -

Oxital - Oxcarbazepine and its active metabolite (MHD) are excreted in human milk; milk-to-plasma concentration ratio of 0.5 was found for both

Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made as to whether a mother should discontinue nursing or whether she should discontinue use of the drug, taking into account the drug's importance to the mother.

Levipil - Levetiracetam - Excreted in breast milk; not recommended.

Both are deemed as category C drugs in pregnancy which is usually applicable to lactation and breast feeding too. Category C means - Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

With this I suggest that if the mother has to be on the drugs then let her not breast feed the baby.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (12 minutes later)
If any drug be used for her for feeding without risk the baby
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Almost all the drugs for seizures carry this risk

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX I understand your concern about the feeding of your new-born baby. But almost all the drugs for seizures carry of risk of getting secreted in the breast milk. Some cause the baby's blood to thinned out and most of them cause drowsiness for the baby and they act in a similar way as they act on the mother, that is they act on the brain.

Regarding stopping of seizure medications, your wife's neurologist will be the best person to decide on it as he/ she is following up the case regularly.

I suggest you not to take risk with your wife's health and feed the baby with artificial milk as this is a valid indication. If you ask me as what to start, all the milk powders commercially available have the same calorie content with minor differences. What ever XXXXXXX you use, the most important thing is proper dilution of the powder (1 scoop in 30ml of water) and feeding with a spoon or paladey. AVOID USING BOTTLE FOR FEEDING.

I wish your kid a bright future and your wife a speedy recovery from epilepsy. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below -

www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696

Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani

Pediatrician, Pulmonology

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 8339 Questions

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Are Oxitol And Levipil Safe While Breastfeeding The Baby?

Brief Answer: Decision on breast feeding Detailed Answer: HI..will discuss each drug separately - Oxital - Oxcarbazepine and its active metabolite (MHD) are excreted in human milk; milk-to-plasma concentration ratio of 0.5 was found for both Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made as to whether a mother should discontinue nursing or whether she should discontinue use of the drug, taking into account the drug's importance to the mother. Levipil - Levetiracetam - Excreted in breast milk; not recommended. Both are deemed as category C drugs in pregnancy which is usually applicable to lactation and breast feeding too. Category C means - Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. With this I suggest that if the mother has to be on the drugs then let her not breast feed the baby. Regards - Dr. Sumanth