Can you take epinastine 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.
Evidence from 7 individuals indicates that transfer of epinastine into breastmilk and the resulting infant serum levels are likely to be minimal and unlikely to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. In the U.S., epinastine is only available as eye drops. Because absorption from the eye is limited, epinastine would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. 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 Epinastine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised September 15, 2025.
How much epinastine gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Seven nursing mothers who had taken oral epinastine 20 mg once daily for at least 7 days donated milk samples at 2, 4 and 10 hours after their daily dose. Average milk levels were 17.6 mcg/L at 2 hours, 31.0 mcg/L at 4 hours and 17.2 mcg/L at 10 hours after the dose. Using the highest average milk level (at 4 hours), the maximum dose that an infant might obtain through breastmilk is 2.6 mcg/kg daily or 8.2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. However, if the 2 and 10-hour milk levels are used, the average infant dosage would be 4.6% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.
Infant Levels. Two infants who were almost exclusively breastfed were nursed by mothers who had taken oral epinastine 20 mg once daily for at least 7 days. Their plasma epinastine levels were under the quantification limit of the assay, but estimated to be 0.0189 and 0.0449 mcg/L. These values correspond to 0.2% and 0.3% of maternal plasma levels, respectively.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
In a study of 7 nursing mothers who were taking oral epinastine 20 mg once daily. No adverse reactions in the infants were reported.
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. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed. Low ophthalmic doses of epinastine are unlikely to have the same effect on serum prolactin.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take epinastine while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Epinastine 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.
Does epinastine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for epinastine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking epinastine?
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 epinastine
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.