Can you take boceprevir 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.
Boceprevir has been removed from the US market. It has not been studied in nursing mothers being treated for hepatitis C infection. Because it must be used with ribavirin and peginterferon alfa, it is not considered a good choice during breastfeeding. Until more data become available, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Hepatitis C is not transmitted through breastmilk and breastmilk has been shown to inactivate hepatitis C virus (HCV).[1–4] However, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that mothers with HCV infection should consider abstaining from breastfeeding if their nipples are cracked or bleeding. It is not clear if this warning would apply to mothers who are being treated for hepatitis C.
Infants born to mothers with HCV infection should be tested for HCV infection; because maternal antibody is present for the first 18 months of life and before the infant mounts an immunologic response, nucleic acid testing is recommended.
Quoted from Boceprevir — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised August 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of boceprevir. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Interferon Alfa
- Interferon Alfacon-1
- Peginterferon Alfa
- Sofosbuvir
How much boceprevir 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 boceprevir while breastfeeding?
Boceprevir has been removed from the US market. 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 boceprevir while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Interferon Alfa, Interferon Alfacon-1, Peginterferon Alfa, Sofosbuvir 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 boceprevir pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for boceprevir are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking boceprevir?
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 boceprevir
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.