Can you take etomidate 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.
Amounts of etomidate in milk are very small and decrease rapidly. Existing data indicate that no waiting period is required before resuming breastfeeding after etomidate anesthesia. Breastfeeding can be resumed as soon as the mother has recovered sufficiently from general anesthesia to nurse. When a combination of anesthetic agents is used for a procedure, follow the recommendations for the most problematic medication used during the procedure. Monitor the infant for sedation and poor feeding.
Quoted from Etomidate — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised March 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of etomidate. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Dexmedetomidine
- Methohexital
- Propofol
- Thiopental
How much etomidate gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Twenty women undergoing cesarean section received 0.3 mg/kg of etomidate intravenously for induction of anesthesia. Average colostrum levels were 79.3 mcg/L (range 0 to 420 mcg/L) at 30 minutes and 16.2 mcg/L (range 0 to 60 mcg/L) at 2 hours after the dose. Etomidate was not detected in any colostrum samples 4 hours after the dose.
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 was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take etomidate while breastfeeding?
Amounts of etomidate in milk are very small and decrease rapidly. 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 etomidate while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Dexmedetomidine, Methohexital, Propofol, Thiopental 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 etomidate pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for etomidate are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking etomidate?
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 etomidate
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.