How to Increase Breast Milk Supply Using Prescription Drugs?

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition and nourishment for the baby and it’s recommended by WHO to nurse the baby exclusively for at least the first 6 months and after that up to 2 years with other foods. From 76% mothers who initially started to nurse their babies were down to only 23% after the 6-month mark. That’s a drastic drop in numbers and one of the biggest reasons why mothers don’t breastfeed their baby is the condition known as Perceived Insufficient milk supply. In this condition mother constantly thinks that her milk supply is not good enough for the baby to completely sustain on it hence they start formula milk.

Most of the time a mother’s milk supply is just fine but even if she does have a low supply of milk, it can be easily boosted by pumping, frequent feedings, lactating cookies , emergency brownies, milk supply supplements and even by prescription drugs. Although there are no specific drugs designed for boosting the milk supply, there are certain drugs that are made for other purposes but can be used to increase milk supply as well. Let’s know more about these prescription drugs, how they work, what side effects they have and by which name we can find them on the market.

How does Prescription Drugs Boost Milk Supply?

The breast milk is produced when the hormone prolactin is present in appropriate levels. When the mother has an imbalance in the levels of the prolactin, low milk supply occurs. Prolactin levels are regulated by dopamine, a inhibitor that makes sure that enough milk is produced not more and not less. The prescription drugs block the dopamine which eventually results in a boosted milk supply. Always use these drugs under the strict regulation of your doctor. You can use them to initiate, establish and boost milk supply.

Common Prescription Drugs Used for Increasing Milk Supply

There are three most common and known prescription drugs used as galactagogues- domperidone (Motilium), metoclopramide (Reglan) and sulpiride (Dolmatil, Sulpitil, Sulparex or Eglonyl).

Domperidone (Motilium)

Domperidone is a drug that is used in the treatment of gastric problems. It’s used in Canada and other parts of the world but not in the USA as the FDA hasn’t approved of it yet. This drug has fewer harmful side effects on the nursing mothers and the baby than its other counterparts we will just talk about. This drug is also safe for long-term usage and side effects like headache, dry mouth and stomach cramps are also rare. FDA hasn’t approved of this drug for any condition as reports of grave heart problems and sudden death have been linked with the usage of this drug when given intravenously. So, if you’re in the USA then the domperidone is illegal to use, sell and import.

Metoclopramide (Reglan)

Metoclopramide is a drug that is prescribed for the treatment of stomach conditions like reflux, nausea, retching or bad burps. This medicine is also most commonly prescribed for increasing the milk supply of breastfeeding mothers. The results of this medicine are almost immediate but will last only till continuous use of it. When you stop taking the medicine the supply diminishes again. Metoclopramide does in fact travel through the milk and reaches the baby but there hasn’t been any evidence indicating any harmful effects.

The most common side effects of this medicine are restlessness, drowsiness and headaches. Less common but definitely severe side effects include, depression and tardive dyskinesia, which doesn’t even completely subside after the discontinuation of the medicine. So, don’t take this medicine in high doses for longer than 12 weeks.

Sulpiride (Dolmatil, Sulpitil, Sulparex or Eglonyl)

Sulpiride is a drug that is used for the treatment of depression, psychotic disorders and other mental conditions. It is used in countries like Zimbabwe, South Africa and Chile. This drug also helps increase the prolactin levels in the body thus increasing milk supply, but its not at all recommended as it has very bad side effects like heavy drowsiness, memory loss and others.

Why would you need to have these Drugs?

Most of the time, a mother can easily increase her milk supply with lactating cookies, milk supply supplements, breast milk drinks, treats and other galactagogues like fennel seeds, milk thistle and oatmeal. But sometimes the doctors do recommend these drugs, this is the case when you want to nurse an adopted baby, you have weaned your child off from the breastfeed but want to give it another chance or you genuinely have a very low supply of breast milk and need a boost of drugs.

A Word from Us

Every drug has some kind of a side effect, so all the mothers out there, who are worried their milk supply is enough please do consult your doctor before starting or even considering any of the drugs mentioned enough.