Christchurch Medicines Information Service

Infant exposure to antidepressants via breast milk is generally low. Post-natal depression affects 10-15% of women and is often treated with antidepressants. The benefits of breastfeeding, and treating depression, usually outweigh any theoretical risk to the infant posed by antidepressants. It is...

Allergic rhinitis is characterised by symptoms such as sneezing, a runny, itchy or blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes. It is very common, affecting up to 30% of the adult population. People with seasonal rhinitis ("hay fever") exhibit symptoms at specific times of the year (usually spring and su...

When treating neuropathic pain in a woman who is pregnant, the use of gabapentinoids (e.g. gabapentin) or an antiepileptic drug (AED) (e.g. levetiracetam, lamotrigine) is a last line option. This is due to the limited availability of data for safe use during pregnancy. Other options should be tri...

Depression affects approximately 10% of pregnant women and is associated with adverse maternal and foetal outcomes. The decision to use or continue antidepressants in pregnancy centres around the risks to the mother and baby of untreated maternal depression, the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic...

Depression affects approximately 10% of pregnant women and can be associated with adverse maternal and foetal outcomes. The decision to use or continue antidepressants in pregnancy centres around the risks to the mother and baby of untreated maternal depression, the effectiveness of non-pharmacol...

Background Nausea and vomiting are experienced by up to 80% of pregnant women. This is often referred to as morning sickness, although nausea and vomiting may occur at other times of the day. For the majority of pregnant women these symptoms are limited to the first trimester and are manageable,...

Metronidazole is often indicated in infections affecting breastfeeding mothers, such as trichomoniasis, pelvic inflammatory disease and bacterial vaginosis. This bulletin reviews the safety of metronidazole in breastfeeding women. Transfer into breast milk Nearly all drugs transfer into...