Can I take Sumatriptan during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

For women who are pregnant and breastfeeding, migraines can be quite common. However, they can be hard to treat, as some medicines may be harmful to the baby. This article talks about the safety of using sumatriptan (a drug for pain and other migraine symptoms) during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

What is Sumatriptan?

Sumatriptan is a triptan, which is a group of medicines that help with migraines. You can buy it as tablets, injections and nasal sprays.

Sumatriptan during pregnancy

There isn’t much information about how this drug affects the baby during pregnancy. As with many other drugs, we cannot be completely sure what it can cause. However, some research shows that it can reach the baby through the placenta.

A 2014 study focused on the risk of birth defects cause by sumatriptan use during pregnancy, and a study of live births in Denmark showed 815 infants exposed to this drug in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The medicine did not seem to add to the risk of birth defects.

While this is reassuring, sumatriptan should only be used during pregnancy if the benefits are greater than the risks, and pregnant women should always speak to their doctor before taking the medication, as each pregnancy is different and should be treated differently.

Sumatriptan during breastfeeding

Little is known about how this medication affects children during breastfeeding, but it mostly seems to be safe. A study investigated 35 breastfeeding women who were taking the drug to treat migraines, and the effects on the baby were small. Just as with any other medication, breastfeeding women need to discuss the use of this drug with their doctor. They should also look into other options for managing their migraines.

Side Effects of Sumatriptan

During pregnancy:

• A higher risk of bleeding during pregnancy.

• A higher risk of high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia (rare).

During breastfeeding:

• The medication may reach the baby through the breast milk.

• Breast milk usually only contains low levels of the drug, and the risk to the baby is low.

• Rare cases of infants becoming drowsy, pausing breathing and reducing feeding have been reported. However, these are not always linked to use of this drug.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should always talk about the potential side effects and ways to manage them with their doctor. Individual circumstances, medical history and other factors must be considered before taking sumatriptan.

Migraines/headaches during pregnancy

Migraines and headaches are common during pregnancy. They can be brought on by hormonal changes and may happen more often in some women than in others.

Can Sumatriptan cause miscarriage?

There is no evidence that sumatriptan raises the chances of miscarriage. However, women should still consult with their doctor so that both mother and baby are safe.

Conclusion

We do not have much information on using sumatriptan during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although studies suggest that the drug is safe in these cases, each situation is different. Women should always speak with a doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or breastfeeding.