Is Trifluoperazine safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Trifluoperazine. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Two mothers taking trifluoperazine 5 and 10 mg per day orally breastfed their infants from 1 week and 8 weeks of age, respectively. Mental and psychomotor development were normal at various times up to 30 months of age.[ 2 ] One infant was breastfed from birth during maternal trifluoperazine 10 mg daily in addition to clonazepam 0.25 mg daily and valproic acid 500 mg daily. No adverse effects in the infant were reported by the mother (follow-up time unspecified).[ 3 ] One mother began taking trifluoperazine (dosage unspecified) 2 months postpartum while breastfeeding her infant. She also started olanzapine 10 mg daily, paroxetine and procyclidine (dosages unspecified). The infant experiences no adverse reactions.[ 4 ]
Effects on milk supply
Phenothiazines cause galactorrhea in 26 to 40% of female patients.[ 5 , 6 ] Hyperprolactinemia appears to be the cause of the galactorrhea.[ 7 - 10 ] The hyperprolactinemia is caused by the drug's dopamine-blocking action in the tuberoinfundibular pathway.[ 11 ]
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Two mothers taking trifluoperazine 5 and 10 mg per day orally had undetectable milk levels ( 1 mcg/L) of trifluoperazine.[ 2 ] Infant Levels. Trifluoperazine was undetectable ( 2 mcg/L) in urine at 86 days of age in an infant whose mother was taking trifluoperazine 10 mg daily.[ 2 ] The infant of one mother who was taking trifluoperazine 10 mg per day orally while breastfeeding had a serum trifluoperazine level of 1 mcg/L. The infant was 1.9 weeks old when tested and the mother had been taking trifluoperazine during pregnancy which might have contributed to the infant's serum level.[ 3 ]
Alternatives LactMed lists
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.