Can you take almotriptan while breastfeeding?
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.
There is minimal published experience with almotriptan during breastfeeding, although the dose in milk appears to be low. If almotriptan is required by the mother of an older infant, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding, but until more data become available, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Painful, burning nipples and breast pain have been reported after doses of sumatriptan and other triptans. This has occasionally been accompanied by a decrease in milk production.
Quoted from Almotriptan — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised September 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of almotriptan. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Eletriptan
- Rizatriptan
- Sumatriptan
- Zolmitriptan
How much almotriptan gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. One woman who was over 1 month postpartum took a single oral dose of almotriptan to treat migraine. She provided one milk sample before the dose, then additional milk samples at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after the dose. The peak milk level of 106.2 mcg/L occurred 2 hours after the dose. The average milk level was 29.6 mcg/L and the half-life in milk was 4 hours. The infant’s daily dosage of almotriptan was estimated to be 4.4 mcg/kg and the weight-adjusted infant dosage was 1.8% of the maternal dose.
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
A review of four European adverse reaction databases found 26 reported cases of painful, burning nipples, painful breasts, breast engorgement and/or painful milk ejection in women who took a triptan while nursing. Pain was sometimes intense and occasionally led to decreased milk production. Pain generally subsided with time as the drug was eliminated. The authors proposed that triptans may cause vasoconstriction of the arteries in the breast, nipples, and the arteries surrounding the alveoli and milk ducts, causing a painful sensation and a painful milk ejection reflex.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take almotriptan while breastfeeding?
There is minimal published experience with almotriptan during breastfeeding, although the dose in milk appears to be low. 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.
What can I take instead of almotriptan while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Eletriptan, Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does almotriptan pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for almotriptan are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking almotriptan?
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 almotriptan
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.