Can you take benzthiazide 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.
No information is available on the amount of benzthiazide in breastmilk. Intense diuresis with large doses may decrease breastmilk production. Other diuretics in low doses are preferred over benzthiazide.
Quoted from Benzthiazide — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised August 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of benzthiazide. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much benzthiazide 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 on benzthiazide was not found as of the revision date. Intense diuresis with thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics, fluid restriction and breast binding have been used to suppress postpartum lactation. The added contribution of the diuretic to these measures, which are effective in suppressing lactation, has not been studied. There are no data on the effects of diuretics on established, ongoing lactation.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take benzthiazide while breastfeeding?
No information is available on the amount of benzthiazide in breastmilk. 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 benzthiazide while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Chlorothiazide, Hydrochlorothiazide 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 benzthiazide pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for benzthiazide are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking benzthiazide?
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 benzthiazide
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.