Can you take dorzolamide 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.
Limited experience with the use of ophthalmic dorzolamide indicate that it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant. French guidelines recommend ophthalmic carbonic anhydrase inhibitor drops as a preferred therapy for glaucoma during breastfeeding. To substantially diminish the amount of drug that reaches the breastmilk after using eye drops, place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more, then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue.
Quoted from Dorzolamide — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised October 18, 2021.
How much dorzolamide 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
A newborn infant was breastfed during maternal therapy with various combinations of ocular timolol, dipivifrin, dorzolamide, brimonidine and several doses of acetazolamide. Ultimately, the mother was treated with timolol gel-forming solution 0.5% and dorzolamide 2% drops. The drugs were given immediately following breastfeeding with punctal occlusion and no apnea or bradycardia was observed in the infant.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take dorzolamide while breastfeeding?
Limited experience with the use of ophthalmic dorzolamide indicate that it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant. 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 dorzolamide pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for dorzolamide are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking dorzolamide?
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 dorzolamide
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.