From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Breastfeeding while taking Lamictal (lamotrigine) is generally considered acceptable with appropriate monitoring, as the benefits of breastfeeding often outweigh the minimal risks associated with Lamictal exposure through breast milk. According to the most recent study 1, lamotrigine does pass into breast milk, but the amount that reaches the infant is typically low. If you're currently taking Lamictal and wish to breastfeed, you should continue your prescribed dosage and not stop the medication abruptly, as this could lead to serious health consequences.
Key Considerations
- Monitor your baby for potential side effects such as excessive sleepiness, poor feeding, or rash while breastfeeding.
- Your healthcare provider may recommend periodic blood tests to check your baby's lamotrigine levels, especially if the baby was already exposed to the medication during pregnancy.
- The decision to breastfeed while taking Lamictal should be made in consultation with both your neurologist or psychiatrist and your baby's pediatrician, who can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation, including your dose, the baby's health status, and other medications you may be taking.
- Higher plasma concentrations generally lead to higher breast milk concentrations, so aiming for the lowest possible maternal plasma levels is beneficial, as noted in the study 1.
- Other studies, such as 2, have also shown that taking low to moderate doses of lamotrigine during the lactation period might be relatively safe, at least for a period of 1 month after delivery.
Additional Guidance
- It is essential to use current, accurate resources, such as LactMed, to assess the safety of medications during breastfeeding, as recommended in the study 3.
- Close periodical monitoring for infants whose mothers are utilizing lamotrigine is recommended to decrease the probability of severe side effects among them, as suggested in the study 4.