NLM Resources: LactMed for Nurses

Posted by Patricia Devine on March 8th, 2018 Posted in: News from NLM, Training & Education

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LactMed, a free database about drugs and lactation, is produced by the National Library of Medicine. It is available via the website, https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/lactmed.htm, or as a mobile app. LactMed provides information on many of the drugs and chemical to which nursing mothers may be exposed, including dietary supplements. The information contained in LactMed includes: Summary statement about use of the drug during lactation; Measurement of levels of the drug in breastmilk; Effects in breastfed infants; Effects on lactation; Alternate drugs to consider.

References to research studies are also included with each entry (with links to the citations in PubMed), and all of the data in LactMed is a result of peer-reviewed literature. The database is updated monthly to reflect current research. Records may be downloaded and/or printed for yourself or for your patients.

Summary of Use During Lactation: This part of the record offers guidance on the use of the drug or substance during breastfeeding. It summarizes the important points which are provided in the record. If there are conflicting recommendations by experts, the summary mentions all and gives citations to the research.

Drug Levels, Maternal and Infant: This section summarizes studies that have measured drug concentrations in breastmilk, and serum or urine concentration in infants.

Effects in Infants: Known side effects from the published literature are included here, using an adverse drug reaction assessment methodology which categorizes reactions as definite, probable, possible, or unlikely to have been caused by the medication.

Effects on Lactation: All possible effects of the drug on lactation are listed here, in addition to extrapolated information from drugs with similar pharmacology.

Alternative Drugs to Consider: This sections lists drugs that have common uses with the drug being searched, and have a record included in the LactMed databse.

LactMed also includes over 100 dietary supplements (such as Black Cohosh, Cranberry, Dandelion, Elderberry, Fenugreek, Glucosamine, Hibiscus, Lavendar). Supplements may be searched by name in the search box, or a list may be retrieved by typing “complementary therapies”, with quotes, in the search box.

Since nurses are such important advocates for breastfeeding, LactMed is a valuable tool. Both the healthcare provider and the nursing mother can benefit from its use.