Asthma medicine during breastfeeding

Asthma is a common long-term lung condition. While breastfeeding, most patients need to continue treating it using asthma medicine. As a chronic respiratory disease, asthma narrows the airways, which can lead to coughing attacks and shortness of breath. These symptoms can persist during breastfeeding. Asthma medicine plays a very important role during breastfeeding because without suitable medication, asthma can get worse, particularly towards the end of pregnancy. This is especially the case among patients who had severe persistent asthma before pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Causes of asthma

Asthma is often caused by a predisposition that leads patients to have inflamed bronchial tubes that are highly sensitive. Asthma attacks may be triggered by various factors, including medication, dust, house dust mites, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke, air pollution and exercise. This is also the case during breastfeeding.

Asthma treatment and asthma medicine during breastfeeding

Most patients need to continue using medicine to treat asthma while breastfeeding. Asthma can be treated using a range of different asthma medicines or active ingredients. You may have questions about how safe these medicines are while breastfeeding:

• Inhaled corticosteroids, e.g. budesonide (Budenobronch, Budiair, Larbex Steri-Neb, Miflonide Breezhaler, Novopulmon, Pulmicort, Symbicort Turbohaler, Pulmelia, DuoResp Spiromax, Bufori Easyhaler), beclometasone (Beclomet, Junik, Sanasthmax, Ventolair, Foster, Inuvair, Trimbow), fluticasone (Avamys, Flutide, Atmadisc, Flusarion, Rolenium, Viani, Flutiform, Elebrato Ellipta, Relva, Revinty, Trelegy Ellipta) and mometasone (Asmanex Twisthaler, Ecural, Atectura Breezhaler, Enerzair Breezhaler)
• Short-acting beta-2 sympathomimetics, e.g. salbutamol (Bronchospray, Pentamol, Salbu Easyhaler, Salbulair, Salbutamol-Ratiopharm, Sultanol, Ventilastin, Combiprasal, Ipramol Teva Steri-Neb), terbutaline (Aerodur Turbohaler, Bricanyl), fenoterol (Berodual, Berotec) and reproterol (Aarane, Allergospasmin, Bronchospasmin)
• Leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast (Montelubronch, Montelunio, Singulair
• Long-acting beta-2 sympathomimetics, e.g. salmeterol (Serevent, Atmadisc, Flusarion, Serkep), formoterol (Bevespi, Brimica, Bufori, Duaklir Genuair, DuoResp Spiromax, Flutiform, Foradil, Forair, Formatris Novolizer, Inuvair, Oxis), olodaterol (Striverdi Respimat, Spiolto Respimat), vilanterol (Anoro Ellipta, Elebrato Ellipta, Laventair Ellipta, Relvar Ellipta, Revinty Ellipta) and indacaterol (Atectura Breezhaler, Enerzair Breezhaler, Onbrez Breezhaler, Ultibro Breezhaler, Ulunar Breezhaler)
• Long-acting anticholinergics, e.g. ipratropium bromide (Atrovent, IpraBronch), aclidinium bromide (Bretaris Genuair, Eklira, Brimica, Duaklir Genuair), tiotropium (Acopair, Braltus, Spiolto Respimat, Spiriva, Srivasso) and umeclidinium bromide (Anoro Ellipta, Elebrato Ellipta, Incruse Ellipta, Rolufta Ellipta)
• Oral corticosteroids, e.g. prednisolone (Decortin H), prednisone (Decortin, Lodotra), hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone (Metypred)

Risks of asthma during breastfeeding

The severity of asthma may vary during breastfeeding. In some cases, asthma only causes occasional or temporary symptoms. However, if patients do not treat their asthma sufficiently using asthma medicine while breastfeeding, this may lead to adverse effects, especially in patients who experience frequent and severe asthma attacks. It is therefore very important that asthma continues to be treated correctly using asthma medicine during breastfeeding. There are certain medicines of choice for treating asthma during breastfeeding and these should be prioritised wherever possible.

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