Can loperamide breastfeeding and lactation

Loperamide is used to treat diarrhoea. It is prescribed for diarrhea in acute infectious diseases, food poisoning, feeding disorders associated with failure of metabolic processes and absorption in the intestine. The drug is effective in adult patients with a diagnosis of chronic diarrhoea, the cause of which may be a medicine, allergen, stress. To understand whether loperamide while breastfeeding, consider its chemical composition and effect on the body.

Chemical composition and pharmacological action of the drug

Loperamide belongs to the opioid funds. According to its chemical structure it is similar to morphine – an alkaloid of opium, which with prolonged use can cause drug dependence. Once in the body, the substance binds to receptors of the nervous system that regulate pain. Many such receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, spinal cord and brain.

The mechanism of action of loperamide:

• inhibits the motility and peristalsis of the small intestine and colon;
• leads to spasm of the sphincter of the rectum;
• holding back a bowel movement;
• reduces the number of urge to defecation;
• suspends the production of fluid and salts in the digestive tract by acting on the epithelium.

After ingestion of the drug effect comes quickly and lasts no more than 6 hours. Removed by the liver with bile after 10-14 hours, a fraction of loperamide excreted by the kidneys in the urine. The medicine is available in tablets, capsules, and drops.

The drug does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier (from blood to Central nervous system), therefore it has no pronounced analgesic action as morphine derivatives. However, prolonged use of loperamide causes withdrawal syndrome (dose-dependency).

Among women who are nursing, research on the use of medication was not performed. But given the pharmacological action and ability be absorbed in breast milk loperamide during pregnancy is not prescribed.

The effect of loperamide on the child's body

According to who recommendations, loperamide is included in the list of essential medicines. But for children under 3 years this product is extremely dangerous because it causes two serious side effects that can lead to death.

After the child enters the substance, it begins to be active. Abruptly stops the peristalsis of the colon. As a result, babies will develop a pathological condition – megacolon – widening of the lumen and the volume of the colon. Such extension leads to violation of blood supply to the walls of the body. Implications – necrosis (necrosis) of a portion or the entire colon with subsequent rupture. It is a heavy defeat of the intestine with a poor prognosis.

Getting loperamide the body child with breast milk may lead to paralysis of the smooth muscles of the intestine.

Dangerous drug-associated diarrhoea acute infectious disease. For example, if a nursing mother and child infectious disease and the woman taking loperamide, the ingress of the drug in child's body is extremely dangerous. Infectious diarrhea in the baby helps to eliminate toxins and decomposition products of pathogenic bacteria. The drug stops diarrhea by eliminating the motor, suctions excess water in the mucosa, spasm of the sphincter. Such a mechanism contributes to the development of severe intoxication, the child is toxic damage to all internal organs and systems. This is a very dangerous condition which in 30-33% of cases leads to the death of children.

In the instructions for use medication is prohibited to children under 3 years. But in practice, pediatricians will not prescribe it to children under 6 years. From 6 to 12 years are given medications under strict medical supervision.

Given the negative consequences for a small body, loperamide in HS (breastfeeding) is absolutely contraindicated.

The effect of loperamide on the health of women during lactation

The use of loperamide in women during breast feeding is often accompanied by adverse reactions from the gastrointestinal tract:

• flatulence, flatulence;
• abdominal discomfort, bloating, abdominal wall is tense;
• constipation;
• constant feeling of thirst;
• nausea, vomiting;
• colic;
• in severe cases, intestinal obstruction.

In some cases, loperamide causes local allergic reactions – itching, rash, redness, dermatitis, urticaria.

The drug can affect the nervous system. The woman developed insomnia or daytime drowsiness, dizziness. Rarely – urinary retention.

If the use of loperamide during lactation is unavoidable, the period of treatment should stop breastfeeding and put the baby on artificial feeding dairy mixes.

With the development of side effects, the drug is canceled to prevent the development of severe conditions, is assigned to medical monitoring woman for 2 days.

The purpose loperamide nursing mothers are not desirable. It is better to replace the drug is less dangerous analogs of natural origin, the use of which will not affect the state of the baby.