More research needed on lithium therapy while breastfeeding

Women wondering if they should keep up with their lithium treatments for bipolar disorder while breastfeeding are left without clear answers, according to a new review that calls for more research. Lithium can reduce mania in people with bipolar disorder, which comes with an increased risk of postpartum psychosis. But some groups warn that lithium exposure through breast milk can potentially be harmful for infants. While more recent studies with better designs suggest that the risk of lithium is low, the researchers write that without better data, “recommendations on whether to continue lithium while breastfeeding must be personalized to the individual woman and her infant.”