Can you take beclomethasone 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.
Although not measured, the amounts of inhaled corticosteroids absorbed into the maternal bloodstream and excreted into breastmilk are probably too small to affect a breastfed infant. Expert opinion considers inhaled, nasal and oral corticosteroids acceptable to use during breastfeeding.
Quoted from Beclomethasone — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised May 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of beclomethasone. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much beclomethasone 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
None reported with any corticosteroid. Three infants were breastfed for 6 months during maternal treatment with beclomethasone dipropionate by inhaler.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take beclomethasone while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Beclomethasone 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.
What can I take instead of beclomethasone while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Budesonide 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 beclomethasone pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for beclomethasone are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking beclomethasone?
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 beclomethasone
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.