Prescription medications and breastfeeding
There are few medications which preclude breastfeeding. Nonetheless, before your doctor prescribes a medication for you, make sure he or she knows that you are breastfeeding. If your doctor is unsure whether or not you can breastfeed safely while taking a particular medication, ask that they check with drug information experts.
For current information about the use of medicines/drugs during breastfeeding (or pregnancy), contact the Medicines Information Centres in your state or the NPS Medicines Line. The numbers are listed below.
Most centres operate during normal business hours. If a call is urgent and outside these hours, ring the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (all states & territories).
| Mothers Location | Service | Telephone (BH) |
| ACT | NPS Medicines Line | 1300 633 424 |
| NSW | MotherSafe, Royal Hospital for Women Randwick | 02 9382 6539 1800 647 848 (NSW country) |
| QLD | NPS Medicines Line | 1300 633 424 |
| SA | Medicines Information Centre Women’s and Children’s Hospital | 08 8161 7222 |
| TAS | NPS Medicines Line | 1300 633 424 |
| VIC | Medicines Information Centre Medicines Information Centre | 03 8345 3190 03 9594 2361 |
| WA | Women & Newborn Health Services (KEMH) | 08 6458 2723 |
| All states & territories | NPS Medicines Line (9 am-5 pm AEST) | 1300 633 424 |
Poisons Information is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week on 13 11 26 (all states & territories)
Further resources
- Lactmed, a free online database with information on drugs and lactation aimed at health professional and the breastfeeding mother
- Perinatology.com, a reference page with a number of links about drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Infant risk centre, a forum for questions from health professionals, but anyone can use the site as a guest
- Breastfeeding and Drugs - Queensland Government
- Medicines in breastfeeding - Royal Women's Hospital
© Australian Breastfeeding Association Reviewed June 2020