Is Selegiline safe while breastfeeding?

Summary of use during breastfeeding

A minimal amount of clinical use of selegiline during breastfeeding has been reported. Although no adverse reactions have been reported in the breastfed infants, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. The manufacturer of the selegiline transdermal patch recommends that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment and for 7 days after the final dose.

Effects on the breastfed infant

A woman took selegiline 10 mg, levodopa 400 mg and benserazide 100 mg daily throughout pregnancy and continued them while breastfeeding her infant for 3 days. The child was followed for 10 years and no developmental abnormalities were found.[2]

A woman with severe depression used a selegiline patch 6 mg per day during pregnancy and postpartum. She exclusively breastfed her infant for an unstated period of time. Pediatric follow-up at 5 months of age found that the infant was developing normally.[1]

Effects on milk supply

Selegiline can decrease serum prolactin in women with migraine,[3] and in those taking neuroleptic drugs.[4,5] The clinical relevance of these findings in nursing mothers is not known. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.

Levels in milk

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. A woman with severe depression used a selegiline patch 6 mg per day during pregnancy and postpartum. She exclusively breastfed her infant. A blood sample taken from the infant on day 12 postpartum found no selegiline or its metabolite in the infant’s plasma. No details were provided regarding the assay or its detection limits.[1]