Excretion of Methylphenidate in Breast Milk
OLAV SPIGSET, M.D., Ph.D., WENCHE RØDSETH BREDE, B.Sc. and KOLBJØRN ZAHLSEN, M.Sc.
Am J Psychiatry 164:348, February 2007
To the Editor: It is unknown to which extent methylphenidate is transferred to breast milk. We therefore present a case of a lactating woman from whom the levels of methylphenidate were measured in serum and breast milk.
A 31-year-old woman with narcolepsy had used methylphenidate regularly before she became pregnant. During pregnancy and the first months postpartum, the drug was discontinued. When she started work after her maternity leave, the need for methylphenidate reappeared. She had a desire to continue breast-feeding, and the question was thus raised as to whether the use of methylphenidate was compatible with breast feeding.
