Are medications safe to take during lactation?

Choose short-acting medications (i.e. medications that need to be taken several times a day rather than once daily or 12-hourly doses). Consume medication immediately before or after a breastfeed, to enable its peak to occur between breastfeeds. Avoid all drugs that affect brain function (e.g. sedatives). Take no recreational or illegal drugs, as they can stay in the infant’s system for weeks, wreaking havoc. Try to avoid non-prescribed medications in the first two weeks of breastfeeding.