Chronic illness and the breastfeeding mother.

Medications taken for chronic illness (e.g., depression, epilepsy, immunological conditions) while breastfeeding pose challenges to risk-assessment. Based on several cases of drug toxicity (or lack thereof) in the breastfeeding infant, individual risk:benefit analyses are discussed. The benefits of human milk are highlighted, together with clinically important principles for patient management, the spectrum of adverse effects in the infant, and emerging concerns regarding the safety of some medications during breastfeeding. A practical guide for patient management is presented.