Can you take brompheniramine 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.
Small, occasional doses of brompheniramine would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Larger doses or more prolonged use may cause effects in the infant or decrease the milk supply, particularly in combination with a sympathomimetic such as pseudoephedrine or before lactation is well established. Single bedtime doses after the last feeding of the day may be adequate for many women and will minimize any effects of the drug. The nonsedating antihistamines are preferred alternatives.
Quoted from Brompheniramine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised September 15, 2025.
How much brompheniramine 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
Irritability and disturbed sleep were reported in an 11-week-old breastfed infant whose mother was taking a product containing dexbrompheniramine and etafedrine (d-isoephedrine). These side effects were possibly caused by dexbrompheniramine in breastmilk, but could have been caused by the etafedrine or both drugs.
In one telephone follow-up study, mothers reported irritability and colicky symptoms in 10% of infants exposed to various antihistamines and drowsiness was reported in 1.6% of infants. None of the reactions required medical attention and none of the infants were exposed to brompheniramine or dexbrompheniramine.
Effects on milk supply
Antihistamines in relatively high doses given by injection can decrease basal serum prolactin in nonlactating women and in early postpartum women. However, suckling-induced prolactin secretion is not affected by antihistamine pretreatment of postpartum mothers. Whether lower oral doses of brompheniramine have the same effect on serum prolactin or whether the effects on prolactin have any consequences on breastfeeding success have not been studied. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take brompheniramine while breastfeeding?
Small, occasional doses of brompheniramine would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. 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.
Does brompheniramine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for brompheniramine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking brompheniramine?
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 brompheniramine
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.