Paxil CR and Breastfeeding

Paxil CR is known to pass to breast milk. However, in several previous studies, nursing children had very low or undetectable levels of paroxetine (the active ingredient of Paxil CR) in their blood when their mothers were taking the medication. If you have been prescribed Paxil CR and are breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding, let your healthcare provider know. Together, you can make a shared decision about Paxil CR and breastfeeding for your particular situation.

Information on Paxil CR

Paxil CR and Breastfeeding: An Overview

Small amounts of Paxil CR^® (paroxetine controlled release) are passed to breast milk. Because of the serious problems that the medicine could potentially cause to a nursing infant, it is recommended that healthcare providers look at the possible risks and benefits before recommending Paxil CR to a woman who is breastfeeding. Therefore, if you have been prescribed Paxil CR and are breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding, make sure to let your healthcare provider know.

When asked about Paxil CR and breastfeeding, many healthcare providers advise their patients that it is okay to breastfeed while taking the drug. This is because, in most cases, the benefits of breastfeeding a child outweigh the possible risks that Paxil CR may pose to the child.

Paxil CR and Breastfeeding: What Does the Research Say?

In several previous studies, children had very low or undetectable levels of

paroxetine (the active ingredient of Paxil CR) in their blood when their mothers took paroxetine while breastfeeding. The most recent study was done by Berle and colleagues, and was published in the September 2004 edition of Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. The researchers concluded that "this study adds further evidence to previous published data indicating that breastfeeding should not be generally discouraged in women using serotonin reuptake anti-depressants (SSRIs)."

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