Is Kratom safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Kratom. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
An infant was born to a mother who took kratom tea 3 to 4 times daily (dose not specified), acetaminophen, methocarbamol, diphenhydramine, valacyclovir, ranitidine, loratadine, albuterol and a low dose of citalopram during pregnancy. She rapidly discontinued kratom in the hospital and was discharged after 7 days. Her infant was breastfed frequently, but was noted to be jittery and to have increased tone with handling within 6 to 8 hours of birth. The infant was admitted to the NICU for irritability, sleeplessness between feeds and excessive sucking at 22 hours of age and was treated with morphine for narcotic withdrawal. She was discharged home on day 12 on oral morphine. At 1 month of age, she continued to be irritable with stretches of prolonged crying, mostly during the daytime, but was feeding well and gaining weight. The time necessary to wean her off morphine was slightly longer than 2 months. This prolonged withdrawal syndrome in the infant might be as a result of sustained in utero exposure.[ 4 ] In this case, breastfeeding did not appear to be helpful in eliminating kratom withdrawal symptoms, even when the mother was still taking kratom. A woman was taking 18 to 20 grams of kratom powder 3 times daily throughout her pregnancy for back pain and mood disorder. She delivered a female infant at 37 weeks and 5 days. On postpartum day 2 the infant developed feeding intolerance, jitteriness, irritability, and emesis. The infant was transferred to the NICU and treated for neonatal opioid withdrawal with a continuous intravenous morphine infusion up to a maximum dose of 10 mcg/kg per hour. By postpartum day 7 the morphine had been converted to the oral route, and then stopped. The infant was transferred back to care with her mother and began breastfeeding shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, on postpartum day 2 the mother began weaning off kratom and was also started on 10 mg of oral morphine 3 times daily. Her morphine and kratom doses were then alternatingly decreased
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
The main psychoactive substance in kratom leaves is mitragynine, which has a bioavailability estimated to be about 21% and a half-life of 3 to 9 hours.[ 7 ] Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.