From the Research
It is generally not recommended to take GoLYTELY (polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution) while breastfeeding without consulting your healthcare provider first. While minimal amounts of the medication may pass into breast milk, the main concern is that the intense bowel cleansing effect could potentially lead to dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, which might affect your milk production temporarily.
Key Considerations
- If you need to undergo a colonoscopy or other procedure requiring bowel preparation while breastfeeding, discuss this with your doctor who may recommend pumping and storing breast milk ahead of time to use during the preparation period.
- They might also suggest a modified dosing schedule or alternative preparation method that minimizes disruption to breastfeeding.
- Stay well-hydrated before, during, and after taking GoLYTELY to help maintain milk supply.
- The active ingredients in GoLYTELY work locally in the intestines with minimal systemic absorption, which is why the direct risk to the infant is considered low, but the indirect effects on milk production are the primary concern, as noted in studies on infant drug exposure via breast milk 1.
Breastfeeding and Medication
- Most drugs show relative infant dose (RID) values of <10%, indicating that drug concentrations in infant serum do not reach a level known to be therapeutic in adults unless drug clearance is markedly lower than the adult level on a weight basis 1.
- The disposition of maternal drugs in breast milk is described with several key parameters, which include RID and milk-to-(maternal) plasma drug concentration ratio (MP ratio) 1.
- It is essential to consider both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors in interpreting adverse outcomes in infants breastfed by a mother taking medications 1.