Can you take cyproheptadine 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.
Unless it is intentionally being used to lower maternal serum prolactin levels, cyproheptadine should be avoided during lactation because it may interfere with lactation, particularly in combination with a sympathomimetic such as pseudoephedrine or before lactation is well established. The nonsedating antihistamines are preferred alternatives.
Quoted from Cyproheptadine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised February 15, 2026.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of cyproheptadine. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much cyproheptadine 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 on cyproheptadine was not found as of the revision date. In one telephone follow-up study, mothers reported irritability and colicky symptoms 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 cyproheptadine.
Effects on milk supply
Cyproheptadine 16 to 24 mg daily lowers serum prolactin in the treatment of amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome because of its antiserotonin activity. Additionally, 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 cyproheptadine has 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 cyproheptadine while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Cyproheptadine 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 cyproheptadine while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Cetirizine, Desloratadine, Fexofenadine, Levocetirizine, Loratadine 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 cyproheptadine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for cyproheptadine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking cyproheptadine?
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 cyproheptadine
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.