Attribution Statement: LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.
- Absorption
The passage of a chemical or drug across the tissue of the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream that goes to the liver, where it may undergo metabolism before entry into the general circulation of the bloodstream.
- Bioavailability
The extent to which a chemical or drug crosses the tissue of the gastrointestinal tract and through the liver, and enters the general circulation of the bloodstream either as active drug or metabolite(s).
- Colostrum
Breast fluid that is secreted during the first few days after birth, before the onset of mature milk.
- Concentration
The amount of a substance in a given volume of body fluid. The same as Level.
- Ductus Arteriosus
A blood vessel that connects the left pulmonary artery and the aorta of the fetus.
- Exclusive Breastfeeding
Feeding an infant with breastmilk alone, with no other intake, with the exception of prescribed medications and vitamins. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, breastfeeding should be exclusive for the first six months of the baby's life.
- Excretion
The elimination of a chemical or drug from the body, usually by the kidneys, either as unchanged drug or its metabolite(s).
- Expressed Milk
Milk that is extracted from the breast by means other than nursing, such as by hand or using a breast pump.
- Foremilk
The first milk that is excreted from the breast at the beginning of a nursing bout or at the beginning of expression. It is relatively low in fat.
- Galactagogue
Medications or other substances believed to assist initiation, maintenance, or augmentation of the rate of maternal milk synthesis.
- Galactorrhea
Abnormal production of milk in nonpregnant, nonlactating women or in men.
- Gram (g)
A unit of weight equal to about one-thirtieth of an ounce.
- Half-life
The time required for one-half of the total concentration of a chemical or drug in a body fluid, usually the general bloodstream, to be eliminated. It takes two half-lives for 75% of a drug to be eliminated and 5 half-lives for 97% of a drug to be eliminated.
- Hindmilk
The last milk that is excreted from the breast at the end of a nursing bout or at the end of expression. It is relatively high in fat compared to foremilk.
- Infant
A young child, from birth through one year of age.
- In Utero
Within the uterus.
- Kilogram (kg)
A unit of weight equal to 1,000 grams or about 2.2 pounds.
- Lactation
The normal secretion of milk by the breast following pregnancy.
- Level
The amount of a substance in a given volume of body fluid. The same as Concentration.
- Liter (L)
A volume of liquid equal to about 1.05 quarts.
- Metabolism
The process of the body's breaking down one chemical or drug into another. Metabolism changes a substance into active or inactive metabolite(s).
- Metabolite
A chemical or drug that is formed by the actions of the body, usually the liver, on the parent compound. The metabolite may be inactive or have activity that is the same or different from the parent substance.
- Microgram (mcg)
One-millionth of a gram.
- Milligram (mg)
One-thousandth of a gram.
- Milliliter (mL)
One-thousandth of a liter of liquid.
- Neonate
An infant of 28 days of age or less. Same as a Newborn.
- Newborn
An infant of 28 days of age or less. Same as a Neonate.
- Parent compound
The original chemical or drug that is taken by the mother.
- Peak
The highest concentration of a chemical, drug or metabolite within a body fluid.
- Plasma
The fluid portion of the blood which contains no red or white blood cells.
- Postpartum
The time right after delivery of an infant.
- Prenatal
Before birth.
- Preterm
Delivery of an infant prior to the 37th week of gestation.
- Prodrug
A drug that is inactive when taken and then metabolized in the body to an active drug.
- Prolactin
A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates milk production.
- Relative Infant Dosage (RID)
The dosage of a drug in mg/kg that the infant receives divided by the dosage of the drug that the mother received in mg/kg, multiplied by 100. Same as the Weight-adjusted Percentage of Maternal Dosage.
- Serum
The clear fluid portion of the blood which contains no red or white blood cells or blood platelets.
- Steady-state
The time at which the concentration of a substance remains constant (such as in blood), because the rate of drug administration equals the rate of drug elimination from the body.
- Trough
The lowest concentration of a chemical, drug or metabolite within in a body fluid.
- Weight-adjusted Dosage
The dosage of a drug divided by the weight of the individual.
- Weight-adjusted Percentage of Maternal Dosage
The dosage of a drug in mg/kg that the infant receives divided by the dosage of the drug that the mother received in mg/kg, multiplied by 100. Same as the relative infant dosage.
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.
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- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) – Glossary - Drugs and Lactation Database...Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) – Glossary - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®)
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