Because there is no published experience with methamphetamine as a therapeutic agent during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. One expert recommends that amphetamines not be used therapeutically in nursing mothers.[1]
Methamphetamine should not be used as a recreational drug by nursing mothers because it may impair their judgment and childcare abilities. Methamphetamine and its metabolite, amphetamine, are detectable in breastmilk and infant's serum after abuse of methamphetamine by nursing mothers. However, these data are from random collections rather than controlled studies because of ethical considerations in administering recreational methamphetamine to nursing mothers. Other factors to consider are the possibility of positive urine tests in breastfed infants which might have legal implications, and the possibility of other harmful contaminants in street drugs. Breastfeeding is generally discouraged in mothers who are actively abusing amphetamines.[2-5] In mothers who abuse methamphetamine while nursing, withholding breastfeeding for 48 to 100 hours after the maternal use been recommended, although in many mothers methamphetamine is undetectable in breastmilk after an average of 72 hours from the last use.[6,7] It has been suggested that breastfeeding can be reinstated 24 hours after a negative maternal urine screen for amphetamines.[7]