Can you take benazepril 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.
Because of the low levels of benazepril in breastmilk, amounts ingested by the infant are small and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants.
Quoted from Benazepril — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised July 15, 2026.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of benazepril. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much benazepril gets into breastmilk
Benazepril is an inactive drug that is metabolized to the active metabolite benazeprilat. Benazeprilat is poorly absorbed orally.
Maternal Levels. In 9 women (time postpartum not stated) given an oral dose of 20 mg of benazepril daily for 3 days, peak milk levels of 0.9 mcg/L of benazepril at 1 hour after the dose and 2 mcg/L of its active metabolite benazeprilat at 1.5 hours after the dose were detected. The authors estimated that the infant would receive a dose less than 0.14% of the mother's weight-adjusted dose of benazepril, mostly as benazeprilat.
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 benazepril while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Benazepril 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 benazepril while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Candesartan, Captopril, Enalapril, Lisinopril, Quinapril, Valsartan 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 benazepril pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for benazepril are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking benazepril?
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 benazepril
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.