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Does THC Get Excreted In Breast Milk?

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Posted on Mon, 17 Feb 2014
Question: If a 2 month old infant was breastfed and the mother used marijuana during those two months but the infant has now switched to enfamil (formula), does THC pass to the infant through the breast milk and how long will it stay in the infants' system?
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Answered by Dr. Praveen G (4 hours later)
Brief Answer: THC will be excreted in breast milk Detailed Answer: Hello, Yes active constituent of cannabis tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will be passed to the infant through breast milk. The best thing you can do to protect your baby from the potentially harmful effects of marijuana is to quit. As your wife is unable to quit, she is not breast feeding the infant. Marijuana will be in the the body much longer than most other drugs. It will be there in the infants body upto 90 days. Hope your query is answered, if you any query please post me. Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Follow up: Dr. Praveen G (12 hours later)
Thank you for your opinion. However, if marijuana stays in a light users system for up to 30 days then how could it stay in an infants system for up to 90 days especially when the infants exposure was indirect through breast milk?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Praveen G (1 hour later)
Brief Answer: Effect of THC Detailed Answer: Hello, It is my pleasure to answer your query, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is rapidly distributed to the brain and adipose tissue of the infant following breast feeding. It is stored in fat tissues for long periods Depending on frequency of use THC can be in the body of infant for days to weeks after last use. It's stored in fat, and stays in hair up to maximum of 90 days. For regular users it will stay longer but it is almost always out of the system within 90 days. Half-life of THC is 2-12 days the more often she smokes the more accumulates & the longer it takes to eliminate. In regular smokers half life might be 10 days that means it takes maximum of 90 days for elimination after stopping the usage of Marijuana. What i have explained here is this the maximum duration of stay of THC in the infant body which can be detected by hair testing. Majority of time it is excreted with in 30-45 days, once again it depends upon amount and duration of usage of Marijuana. Hope you are convinced with my answer. Still if you any query please post me. Thank you.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Praveen G

Infectious Diseases Specialist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 2448 Questions

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Does THC Get Excreted In Breast Milk?

Brief Answer: THC will be excreted in breast milk Detailed Answer: Hello, Yes active constituent of cannabis tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will be passed to the infant through breast milk. The best thing you can do to protect your baby from the potentially harmful effects of marijuana is to quit. As your wife is unable to quit, she is not breast feeding the infant. Marijuana will be in the the body much longer than most other drugs. It will be there in the infants body upto 90 days. Hope your query is answered, if you any query please post me. Thank you.