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Review
. 2014 Nov;70(11):1313-24.
doi: 10.1007/s00228-014-1748-0. Epub 2014 Sep 13.

Breastfeeding and migraine drugs

Riccardo Davanzo  1 , Jenny Bua, Giulia Paloni, Giulia Facchina
Affiliations
Review

Breastfeeding and migraine drugs

Riccardo Davanzo et al. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose: Breastfeeding women may suffer from migraine. While we have many drugs for its treatment and prophylaxis, the majority are poorly studied in breastfeeding women. We conducted a review of the most common anti-migraine drugs (AMDs) and we determined their lactation risk.

Methods: For each AMD, we collected all retrievable data from Hale's Medications and Mother Milk (2012), from the LactMed database (2014) of the National Library of Medicine, and from a MedLine Search of relevant studies published in the last 10 years.

Results: According to our review, AMDs safe during breastfeeding are as follows: low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), ibuprofen, sumatriptan, metoprolol, propranolol, verapamil, amitriptyline, escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, acetaminophen, caffeine, and metoclopramide. AMDs compatible with breastfeeding but warranting caution are as follows: diclofenac, ketoprofen, naproxen, most new triptans, topiramate, valproate, venlafaxine, and cyproheptadine. Finally, high-dose ASA, atenolol, nadolol, cinnarizine, flunarizine, ergotamine, methysergide, and pizotifen are contraindicated.

Conclusions: According to our review, the majority of the revised AMDs were assessed to be compatible with breastfeeding.

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