Is Cascara Sagrada safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what LactMed, the Drugs and Lactation Database published by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reports about Cascara Sagrada. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Maternal cascara intake might cause loose stools in some breastfed infants and should be avoided.[1] Other cathartics are preferred.
Effects on the breastfed infant
In 2 uncontrolled studies, a total of 10 of 22 breastfed neonates appeared to have loose stools after administration of 65 mg of cascara as cascara fluidextract to their mothers.[2]
In an observational case series, no cases of diarrhea were observed among the breastfed infants of 142 mothers who received 400 mg of cascara extract on day 3 postpartum.[3] This result might have been because of the small amount of colostrum received by the infants of this age.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
After administration of 65 mg of cascara sagrada as cascara fluidextract, cascara was qualitatively detected in the breastmilk of 5 of 10 women collected over 20 hours.[2] The sensitivity of the assay was about 1100 mg/L of cascara.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Cascara Sagrada” (LM452). LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.