Safe Medications during Breastfeeding
Although many drugs are safe to use when you're breastfeeding, most will get into your milk to some degree and may even affect your milk supply. To be safe, check with your child's doctor before taking any kind of medication, even over-the-counter drugs. The information in this table was compiled and reviewed by Philip Anderson, a pharmacist and the editor of LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's drugs and lactation database. If you have more questions about how a drug you're taking might affect your breast milk or your baby, check our pregnancy warnings and breastfeeding warnings pages.
Drugs Safe to Take in Usual Doses
| Name of Drug | Brand Name | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Acetaminophen | Tylenol | Used for pain relief |
| Acyclovir and valacyclovir | Zovirax, Valtrex | Antiviral for herpes infections |
| Antacids | Maalox, Mylanta | Used to treat upset stomachs |
| Bupivacaine | Marcaine | A local anesthetic |
| Caffeine | coffee, soft drinks | A stimulant |
| Cephalosporins | Keflex, Ceclor, Ceftin, Omnicef, Suprax | Antibiotics for lung, ear, skin, urinary tract, throat, and bone infections |
| Clotrimazole | Lotrimin, Mycelex | Used to treat yeast and fungal infections |
| Contraceptives (progestin-only) | Micronor, Norplant, Depo-Provera | Used for birth control |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone | Used to treat inflammation of joints and other conditions |
| Decongestant nasal sprays | Afrin | Used to treat stuffy noses |
| Digoxin | Lanoxin | Used to treat heart problems |
| Erythromycin | E-Mycin, Erythrocin | Used for skin and respiratory infections |
| Fexofenadine | Allegra | Antihistamine for allergies and hay fever |
| Fluconazole | Diflucan | Used to treat yeast infections |
| Heparin and LMW heparins | Used to keep blood from clotting | |
| Ibuprofen | Motrin, Advil | Used for pain relief |
| Inhalers, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids | Albuterol, Vanceril | Used for asthma |
| Insulin | For diabetes; dosage required may drop up to 25 percent during lactation | |
| Laxatives, bulk-forming and stool softening | Metamucil, Colace | Used to treat constipation |
| Lidocaine | Xylocaine | A local anesthetic |
| Loratadine | Claritin | Antihistamine for allergies and hay fever |
| Low molecular weight heparins (enoxaparin, dalteparin, tinzaparin) | Lovenox, Fragmin, Innohep | Anticoagulants |
| Magnesium sulfate | Used to treat preeclampsia and eclampsia | |
| Methyldopa | Aldomet | Used to treat high blood pressure |
| Methylergonovine (short courses) | Methergine | Used to prevent or control bleeding after childbirth |
| Metoprolol | Lopressor | A beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure |
| Miconazole | Monistat 3 | Used to treat yeast infections |
| Nifedipine | Adalat, Procardia | Used for high blood pressure and Raynaud's syndrome of the nipple |
| Penicillins | Amoxicillin, Dynapen | Used to treat bacterial infections |
| Propranolol | Inderal | A beta blocker used to treat heart problems, and high blood pressure |
| Theophylline | Theo-Dur | Used to treat asthma and bronchitis |
| Tretinoin | Retin A | Cream used for acne |
| Thyroid replacement | Synthroid | Used to treat thyroid problems |
| Vaccines (except smallpox and yellow fever) | ||
| Vancomycin | Vancocin | An antibiotic |
| Verapamil | Calan, Isoptin, Verelan | Used for high blood pressure |
| Warfarin | Coumadin | Used to treat or prevent blood clots |
Drugs Probably Safe in Usual Doses
Little is known about the effects of these drugs on a breastfeeding infant, but if there is an effect, it will probably be mild. In rare cases, a child has an allergic reaction.
| Name of Drug | Brand Name | Use |
|---|---|---|
| ACE inhibitors | Enalapril (Vasotec), Benazepril (Lotensin) | Used to treat high blood pressure |
| Anticholinergic agents | Pro-Banthine | Used to treat intestinal and gall bladder spasms; may reduce milk supply |
| Anticonvulsants | Depakote, Dilantin, Tegretol (avoid ethosuximide, phenobarbital, and primidone) | Used for seizures and mood disorders |
| Antihistamines | Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton | May reduce milk supply and cause infant drowsiness or fussiness |
| Antituberculars | INH | Used to treat tuberculosis |
| Azathioprine | Imuran | Used to suppress the immune system following organ transplants |
| Barbiturates (except phenobarbital) | Fiorinal, Fioricet | For sedation and tension headaches |
| Bupropion | Wellbutrin | For depression |
| Clindamycin | Cleocin | Used to treat abdominal and vaginal infections |
| Oral decongestants | Sudafed, Entex PSE | Used to treat congestion associated with colds or allergies; often reduces milk supply |
| Ergonovine (short course) | Used to treat uterine bleeding. May reduce milk supply. | |
| Fluconazole | Diflucan | Antifungal |
| Gadolinium | Magnevist, Omniscan | Contrast agent for MRI studies |
| Haloperidol | Haldol | Used to treat psychosis |
| Histamine H2 blockers | Cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatadine (Axid), and famotidine (Pepcid - preferred) | Used to treat stomach problems |
| Labetalol | Normodyne, Trandate | Used for high blood pressure; caution with preterm babies |
| Hydrochlorothiazide (low doses) | HydroDiuril | Diuretic for high blood pressure |
| Lorazepam | Ativan | Used to treat anxiety |
| Methimazole | Tapazole | Used for hyperthyroidism; less than 20 mg/day is probably safe |
| Metoclopramide | Reglan | Used for gastrointestinal problems and to increase milk supply |
| Midazolam | Sedative used in anesthesia | |
| Naproxen | Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve | Used for pain relief; okay if baby is at least 1 month old |
| Oxazepam | Serax | Used to treat anxiety |
| Paroxetine | Paxil | Used to treat depression |
| Phenothiazines | Compazine (anti-nausea), Stelazine, Thorazine (anti-psychotic) | |
| Propofol | Diprivan | Sedative used in anesthesia |
| Propylthiouracil (PTU) | Used to treat hyperthyroidism | |
| Quinidine | Used to treat heartbeat irregularities | |
| Quinolone antibacterials | Cipro and Levaquin; Noroxin is preferred | Treatment of urinary tract infections |
| Salicylates (occasional use) | Aspirin | Used for pain relief |
| Sertraline | Zoloft | Used to treat depression |
| Spironolactone | Aldactone, Aldactazide | Used to treat high blood pressure |
| Sumatriptan | Imitrex | Used to treat migraines |
| Tetracyclines < 14 days | tetracycline, doxycycline | Used to treat acne and urinary tract infections |
| Trazodone | Used for depression and sleep | |
| Tricyclic antidepressants (avoid doxepin) | Elavil, Tofranil, Pamelor | Used to treat depression; nortriptyline preferred |
| Verapamil | Calan, Isoptin, Verelan | Used for high blood pressure |
Last updated: August 2008
