Can you take bumetanide 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.
It is unknown if bumetanide is excreted into breastmilk. It should be avoided while breastfeeding a newborn because it may decrease milk flow or completely suppress lactation. Low doses in mothers whose lactation is well established are unlikely to suppress lactation.
Quoted from Bumetanide — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised November 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of bumetanide. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much bumetanide 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 bumetanide was not found as of the revision date. Intense diuresis, fluid restriction and breast binding have been used to suppress lactation immediately postpartum. The added contribution of the diuretic to the other measures, which are effective in suppressing lactation, has not been studied. No data exist on the effects of loop diuretics on established, ongoing lactation.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take bumetanide while breastfeeding?
It is unknown if bumetanide is excreted into 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 bumetanide 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 bumetanide pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for bumetanide are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking bumetanide?
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 bumetanide
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.