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Can you take acarbose while breastfeeding?

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the NIH/NLM Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) sourcesUpdated May 15, 2026How we research

What LactMed says

The National Library of Medicine’s own summary, quoted in full. We do not write a verdict of our own on this question, and we do not compress theirs into a label.

Because less than 2% of a dose of acarbose is absorbed from the mother's gastrointestinal tract, it is unlikely that any drug reaches the infant through breastmilk.

Quoted from Acarbose — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised May 15, 2026.

How much acarbose gets into breastmilk

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

What has been seen in breastfed infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take acarbose while breastfeeding?

What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Acarbose while breastfeeding — quoted in full. The full record is quoted on this page, and the decision is one to make with the person who prescribed it — LactMed itself states it is not a substitute for professional judgement.

Does acarbose pass into breastmilk?

LactMed's measured drug levels for acarbose are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".

Do I need to pump and dump after taking acarbose?

LactMed does not frame its records that way — it reports measured drug levels in milk and what has been observed in breastfed infants, which is what this page quotes. "Pump and dump" advice for a specific drug and dose should come from your clinician or a pharmacist, not from a general rule.

More on acarbose

LactMed states that the information it presents is not a substitute for professional judgement, and that you should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Nothing on this page is medical advice.