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Methadone has been shown to transfer into breast milk.
Blinick reported a milk/maternal plasma ratio of 0.83.
This same study reports no adverse effects
on the infant of being breast fed irrespective of the maternal methadone dose
(
Geraghty studied two breastfeeding mothers on high doses of
Methadone and measured milk levels along with maternal serum levels.
They found very little in the breast milk (
There is one report of a 4-week-old infant breast fed by his methadone
using mother who was found dead in bed. His history was significant for poor
growth, being cranky, having signs of a "cold" and refusal to feed
(
Mothers may minimize the amount of methadone that the infant receives
from breastfeeding by giving the infant a bottle of formula at the
feeding after the dose of methadone is taken by the mother
(
The AAP statement Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals into Human Milk
has placed methadone in the "usually compatible with breastfeeding"
group. This is based on the assumption that the mother is receiving
methadone in a structured drug treatment program.
This program should include monitoring of maternal urine to detect concomitant
usage of other illicit drugs (
A report from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services recommends that Methadone using
mothers who are compliant with their treatment program should be encouraged
to breastfeed (
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