Can you take dicyclomine 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.
Dicyclomine has not been well studied during breastfeeding. However, one possible case of apnea has been reported in a breastfed infant that is similar to reactions that have occurred in infants given the drug directly. Dicyclomine should not be used during lactation.
Quoted from Dicyclomine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised June 15, 2025.
How much dicyclomine gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. However, the manufacturer reported a mother who was given a single 20 mg dose of dicyclomine orally. Two hours after the dose, the concentration in breastmilk was 131 mcg/L.
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. The manufacturer reported a breastfed infant who developed apnea during maternal therapy with dicyclomine. Dicyclomine is a possible cause of the reaction.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information in nursing mothers was not found as of the revision date. Anticholinergics can inhibit lactation in animals, apparently by inhibiting growth hormone and oxytocin secretion.[2–6] Anticholinergic drugs can also reduce serum prolactin in nonnursing women. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take dicyclomine while breastfeeding?
Dicyclomine has not been well studied during breastfeeding. 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 dicyclomine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for dicyclomine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking dicyclomine?
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 dicyclomine
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.