Buspirone use while Breastfeeding
Drugs containing Buspirone: BuSpar, Vanspar
Buspirone Levels and Effects while Breastfeeding
Summary of Use during Lactation
Limited information indicates that maternal doses of buspirone up to 45 mg daily produce low levels in milk. Because no information is available on the long-term use of buspirone during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Drug Levels
Maternal Levels. A woman was taking buspirone 15 mg 3 times daily during pregnancy and postpartum. On day 13 postpartum, buspirone was undetectable in breastmilk by HPLC assay (limit of detection and time of sample not stated).[1]
Infant Levels. In the exclusively breastfed infant of a mother who was taking buspirone 15 mg 3 times daily, buspirone was undetectable in the infants's serum by HPLC assay (limit of detection and time of sample not stated) on days 13 and 21 postpartum.[1]
Effects in Breastfed Infants
Possible drug-induced seizure-like activity and cyanosis occurred in a breastfed 3-week-old whose mother was taking buspirone 15 mg 3 times daily as well as fluoxetine and carbamazepine during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The authors thought that this reaction, if drug induced, was most likely caused by fluoxetine.[1]
One exclusively breastfed 11-week-old infant was breastfed during maternal therapy with buspirone 10 mg daily and venlafaxine 300 mg daily. No adverse reactions were reported by the mother or in the medical records.[2]
Possible Effects on Lactation
Buspirone increases serum prolactin.[3][4][5][6] Galactorrhea was reported in a women taking venlafaxine after buspirone was added to her regimen. However, when buspirone was discontinued, galactorrhea persisted.[7] The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Alternate Drugs to Consider
References
1. Brent NB, Wisner KL. Fluoxetine and carbamazepine concentrations in a nursing mother/infant pair. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1998;37:41-4. PMID: 9475699
2. Newport DJ, Ritchie JC, Knight BT et al. Venlafaxine in human breast milk and nursing infant plasma: determination of exposure. J Clin Psychiatry. 2009;70:1304-10. PMID: 19607765
3. Bridge MW, Marvin G, Thompson CE et al. Quantifying the 5-HT1a agonist action of buspirone in man. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001;158:224-9. PMID: 11713611
4. Gomez-Gil E, Navines R, Martinez De Osaba MJ et al. Hormonal responses to the 5-HT1a agonist buspirone in remitted endogenous depressive patients after long-term imipramine treatment. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2010;35:481-9. PMID: 19762159
5. Maskall DD, Zis AP, Lam RW et al. Prolactin response to buspirone challenge in the presence of dopaminergic blockade. Biol Psychiatry. 1995;38:235-9. PMID: 8547445
6. Navines R, Gomez-Gil E, Martin-Santos R et al. Hormonal response to buspirone is not impaired in major depression. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2007;22:389-95. PMID: 17563921
7. Sternbach H. Venlafaxine-induced galactorrhea. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2003;23:109-10. PMID: 12544389
Buspirone Identification
Substance Name
CAS Registry Number
36505-84-7
Drug Class
- Anti-Anxiety Agents
- Serotonin Agonists
Administrative Information
LactMed Record Number
566
Information from the National Library of Medicine's LactMed Database.
Last Revision Date
2010-10-04
Disclaimer
Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.
See Also...
- Buspirone use during Pregnancy
- Buspirone Consumer Information
- Breastfeeding Support Group
- Safe Medications during Breastfeeding
- Medicine use while Breastfeeding
- Medicine use during Pregnancy
Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Use of this website signifies your agreement to the Terms of Use and Online Privacy Policy.
