Contents
From the very first days of life, the main source of nutrition for the baby is breast milk. For a child, mother’s milk is the most valuable source of substances necessary for life and development.
Most women today are aware of the value of breast milk and consciously try to continue breastfeeding as long as possible.
But health problems, lack of time and other life circumstances can make breastfeeding simply impossible. In this case, the question arises of stopping breastfeeding. So, for example, women suffering from benign neoplasms of the pituitary gland (adenoma) during pregnancy should undergo regular examination by an endocrinologist, since both during the period of gestation and lactation there is a high risk of developing neoplasms of the mammary gland.
Of course, the ideal option for both the health of the child and the mother’s body is physiological natural breastfeeding. During lactation, the hormonal background of a woman normalizes.
In some cases, women from the first day after childbirth do not feed the baby with breast milk, but it is produced, since this is a natural physiological process.
“Stagnation” of milk in the mammary glands can be dangerous, besides it delivers a lot of unpleasant, painful sensations to the mother. Therefore, with the actual cessation of breastfeeding, the process of milk production should be interrupted as soon as possible.
There are a number of ways to stop lactation. One of the most effective is taking specialized drugs.
Medications to stop lactation
The need to suppress “mature” lactation may arise for one reason or another: lack of time, health status, etc. Under natural conditions, lactation stops on its own after a certain period. This does not require any special means or activities. Therefore, medical interruption of breast milk production is practiced in an extremely limited number of cases.
Many drugs act radically, interrupting the production of breast milk at once. This does not have the best effect on both the mother’s body and the child’s body (if he has been breastfed for some time). The best thing is to gradually stop the process.
Drugs are the last resort. The reason for this is the presence of a large number of contraindications and side effects from their use. In addition, mothers should not rely on the fact that the production of breast milk will stop at once. Thus, a rather unpleasant situation arises: milk stagnation is harmful and brings a lot of pain, but at the same time, the active ingredients of the drugs are concentrated in breast milk, so it is impossible to put the baby to the breast from the moment the first medication is taken.
In general, this kind of drugs are used only in exceptional cases:
Termination of pregnancy in the later stages.
Severely flowing mastitis (purulent) with a confirmed tendency to generalize.
The presence of serious diseases and pathologies in the mother: HIV, tuberculosis, malignant neoplasms.
Diseases in a child: phenylketonuria, etc.
In all other cases, doctors do not recommend taking specialized medicines, and if interruption of lactation is still necessary, approach the selection of funds only under the supervision of a specialist.
The most aggressive agents containing hormonal substances. Such drugs “shatter” the hormonal background and can cause the development of secondary pathologies.
One of these drugs is levodopa. It has become, in a way, a classic in the termination of lactation and has been used for a long time. The drug actively inhibits the circulation of dopamine in the body and reduces the production of the hormone serotonin (i.e., the drug has a pronounced dopaminergic effect).
Levodopa has a lot of severe side effects, so at the moment it is practically not used. Previously, the drug was prescribed according to the following scheme: 1/2 gram 2 times a day. The course of admission is 10 days. But, as already mentioned, the drug was tolerated by patients very hard, since there were multiple side effects: tachycardia, bradycardia, headache and dizziness, loss of consciousness, nausea, etc. Levodopa significantly increases blood pressure, therefore it is contraindicated in hypertensive patients. Also, the drug had a pronounced hepatotoxic effect and inhibited kidney function. Obviously, the price of taking such a medicine could be high.
At the moment, preference is given to drugs based on specific female hormones (gestagens and estrogens), in some cases in combination with male sex hormones and drugs that inhibit the production of prolactin.
Hormonal drugs to stop lactation
Despite the fact that hormonal drugs are relatively safe, the number of side effects and contraindications to their use is no less. taking hormonal drugs is always a heavy blow to the body. Therefore, before taking them, it is necessary to consult with several specialized specialists: an endocrinologist and a gynecologist.
Preparations based on female sex hormones are contraindicated in:
Degenerative and hyperplastic processes in the mammary gland.
Menstrual disorders (now or in the past).
Male pattern hair.
High blood pressure (hypertension).
Phlebological diseases.
Renal, liver failure.
Diabetes mellitus of both types.
Preparations based on male hormones (androgens) are not used on their own, this can be fraught with sexual dysfunction and a host of endocrinological problems. They are used only in combination with female sex hormones. The main medication is testosterone propinate solution.
In other cases, doctors prescribe medications based on gestagens. Gestagens are specific active substances (hormones) that are produced in the second phase of the menstrual cycle and not throughout pregnancy. Gestagens, like estrogens, are contraindicated in these cases. But at the same time, gestagens have much fewer side effects, so they are used more often in modern medical practice.
The most common drug is Norkolut (norethisterone). It is taken as follows: 20 mg per day for the first three days, then the dose is reduced to 15 mg and the drug is taken at this dosage for the next 4 days. The next 2 days, the drug is taken at a dosage of 5 mg less than the previous one (10 mg). Thus, the general course of treatment is 10 days.
In some cases, other drugs are recommended (Dufaston and some others).
Prolactin inhibitor drugs
Of all drugs for stopping lactation, those that inhibit the production of the hormone prolactin are recognized as the safest. Prolactin is synthesized in the pituitary gland (this is a pituitary hormone) and stimulates the active production of breast milk in a woman.
To inhibit the synthesis of prolactin in medical practice, two hormones are used: bromocriptine (trade name – Parlodel) and cabergoline (trade name – Dostinex). Parlodel has an intense effect due to interaction with the receptors of the endocrine system. How to use it: 1 tablet 2 times a day (dosage – 2.5 mg per tablet). Bromocriptine should be taken within 14 days.
Of course, side effects are inevitable. Parlodel causes headache, dizziness, nausea, drops in blood pressure when changing body position. Despite this, the frequency of occurrence of undesirable effects is relatively small.
The drug also has a number of contraindications:
Heart damage (myocardial infarction, heart failure, etc.).
Hypertension 2-3 stages.
During the treatment period, even healthy people are advised to constantly monitor their blood pressure levels. Also, in no case should you take the drug simultaneously with other medicines based on ergot alkaloids.
Another option is to take Dostinex. Unlike all the previously listed drugs, it has a rapid and intense effect, which manifests itself almost from the first hours after the first application.
After only 2-3 hours from the moment of ingestion, the concentration of the hormone prolactin changes in the blood. Its synthesis is rapidly declining. In addition, the drug has a prolonged action: a certain effect even after a single dose lasts about a month.
To suppress lactation, one tablet is prescribed. The course of treatment is 2 days. The tablet must be divided into two parts and taken in half every 12 hours.
In some cases, it is necessary to prevent lactation without waiting for it to begin. Then the drug is prescribed at a dosage of 1 mg (whole tablet) for 2 days.
In addition to the contraindications that exist for Parlodel, Dostinex has a few more:
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, bleeding of the stomach or intestines, liver failure, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, stomach ulcers.
Mental illness.
The presence of at least one of the diseases is an absolute contraindication. Therefore, before taking Dostinex, it is important to undergo a complete examination by specialized specialists.
Side effects when taking the drug are extremely rare, but they still exist.
Nervous system disorders (vegetative disorders): dizziness, headache, heart failure, nausea, etc.
Gastrointestinal disorders: exacerbations of gastritis, heaviness and pain in the stomach, dyspeptic manifestations.
depression.
Cardiovascular disorders: arrhythmia, decrease or increase in blood pressure.
With individual intolerance to the drug or an overdose, mental disorders may develop: psychoses, hallucinations.
Before you start taking special drugs to suppress lactation, it is recommended to exclude the presence of a pregnancy condition. In some cases, women deliberately interrupt lactation in order to become pregnant while already pregnant. During pregnancy, the use of Dostinex or any other drugs is strictly prohibited.
All drugs to suppress lactation are very serious and can cause irreparable harm to health. Therefore, of course, you should not prescribe therapy yourself. This is fraught with serious consequences for both the mother’s body and the baby itself. Consultation with a specialist is required.
The strategy of lactation suppression is selected individually by gynecologists and endocrinologists. At the moment, prolactin inhibitors are the most widely used, as the safest of the entire group of drugs for suppressing breast milk production. In practice, cabergoline is most used because it is more easily tolerated by patients than bromocriptine. However, if intolerance is observed or there are contraindications for taking the drug in the patient, other medications are prescribed. In this case, sex hormones and their derivatives are prescribed.
Specific names are selected by the doctor, based on the results of ultrasound and on-site examination data. Less preferred than inhibitors, but still less dangerous than other drugs, are gestagens. Male sex hormones are rarely used and only in combination with estrogens in order to reduce their concentration, and hence the likelihood of adverse reactions.
Other drugs to stop lactation
There are other drugs to stop breast milk production:
Acetomepregenol
Turinal
Orgametril
Primolyuta – Nor
Utrozhestan
Bromocamphor
Why can’t you take drugs on your own?
As mentioned above, all of these drugs are hormonal in nature, or have a depressing function on hormones. The endocrine system is a clear and well-coordinated mechanism that ensures the stable normal functioning of the whole organism. The slightest failure provokes a huge number of serious consequences.
In addition, a person does not always know what diseases he has, and therefore is unable to take into account all the recommendations for taking drugs.
Thus, there are two reasons for the ban on self-administration of drugs:
The severity of drugs and a high degree of interference with the endocrine system.
A huge number of contraindications and side effects.
Medicines to suppress lactation with uncontrolled intake can lead to a number of serious complications:
Degenerative and hyperplastic processes in the mammary gland. During breastfeeding (immediately after pregnancy), the mammary glands work extremely actively, at the limit of their capabilities. With uncontrolled intake of drugs, the effect may be reversed, and the mammary gland will receive a stimulus to more active milk production. Unable to cope, the gland will begin to build up tissues (diffuse disorders will occur). As a result, benign or malignant degeneration of breast tissue is possible.
Menstrual irregularities. The female body reacts especially sharply even to natural changes in the hormonal background. Needless to say, that artificial intervention will lead to a serious disruption in the process of normal ovogenesis?
Male pattern hair. An excess of hormones (especially male ones, which women actively use, sometimes even on their own, without taking female hormones) contributes to the development of phenomena uncharacteristic of female physiology, one of which is increased body hair.
High blood pressure (hypertension). All drugs to stop lactation have a hypertensive effect. Sometimes very tangible. Even a healthy person can experience jumps in blood pressure numbers. If we talk about hypertension, the result of such self-treatment can be very deplorable.
Vein problems.Hormonal drugs increase the permeability of large and small vessels, resulting in bleeding and hematoma. In addition, the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels decreases, as a result of which they can rupture.
Mental disorders. With the wrong use of synthetic drugs to inhibit the synthesis of prolactin, hallucinations and psychoses can occur. A person with a confirmed diagnosis has exacerbations (schizophrenia, psychosis, depression, etc.).
Changes in the gastrointestinal tract.These drugs are also dangerous for the gastrointestinal tract. They cause liver failure, toxic hepatitis, ulcers and gastritis of various forms. May cause bleeding and death.
Often, with careless administration of drugs, kidney damage is observed: nephritis, pyelonephritis. Both diseases can be a source of high blood pressure. In severe cases, acute renal failure develops, which is fraught with death.
All this testifies to the great danger of self-prescribing and taking medications aimed at stopping milk production.
It is important to keep in mind three points:
All drugs, especially such dangerous ones, should be prescribed only by a specialist.
The specialist should prescribe medications only after a thorough examination of the patient, taking an anamnesis and conducting appropriate instrumental and laboratory studies.
You should not resort to taking medications unless there is a good, real reason for it.
In addition, do not forget that after the first medication, in no case should you breastfeed your baby.
Recommendations for taking pills to stop lactation
The most important recommendation is to use drugs based on hormones or hormone synthesis inhibitors only when indicated. However, if you can not refuse to take drugs, it is important to follow a number of simple recommendations. They will help maintain the health of themselves, the child, as well as minimize the harm from the course of therapy.
All drugs based on a specific female hormone – estrogen cause severe side effects: vomiting, dizziness, nausea. At the same time, the frequency of manifestation of these phenomena is high and amounts to tens of percent. They are strictly contraindicated in diseases of the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular pathologies (hypertension, etc.). Progestogens do not have such pronounced negative effects, therefore, in medical practice, they are more preferable, since they are considered safer.
In no case should you engage in self-medication. Absolutely all drugs intended for the designated purposes are potentially dangerous and it is impossible to predict how they will work in one case or another. Before taking them, a consultation of specialists is mandatory: a gynecologist, a mammologist, an endocrinologist and, possibly, a pediatrician.
Be sure to follow the dosage of the drug. The dosage and regimen is selected by a specialist. The annotations indicate only general recommendations for admission, so you should not consider them “ultimate truth”. Instructions are developed for specialists.
You need to be mentally prepared for the occurrence of unpleasant consequences of taking medications. No matter how safe they are, a number of side effects will still occur. Most often, we are talking about a simple malaise and headache, as well as possible weakness. If severe symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor to adjust therapy.
Milk does not disappear all at once. The process can take from 1 day to 14 days. Therefore, to avoid stagnation, breast milk should be expressed from time to time.
It is unacceptable to exert constant pressure on the mammary gland. Therefore, during the period of therapy, the bra should be soft, pitted, able to stretch.
You should forget about the “old grandfather’s way”, the essence of which was to tighten the chest with an elastic bandage. Contrary to popular belief, this not only does not help, but also contributes to the development of severe pathologies: lactostasis and mastitis.
In some cases, lactation may resume some time after the termination of the course of treatment. Then you need to consult with a specialist again and take another course.
From the moment of the first administration of the drug, the child should not be applied to the breast.
If for one reason or another it became necessary to continue lactation, it is necessary to wait until the drug taken is excreted from the body (as a rule, we are talking about 1-3 days, but when taking certain drugs, for example, based on cabergoline, you need to wait 2 -4 weeks), then express milk and only then start breastfeeding.