Can you take ezetimibe 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.
Data from 2 mothers indicate that levels of ezetimibe and its active metabolite appear in very low amounts in milk and serum levels in infants predicted by a pharmacokinetic model are considerably lower than in adults. Ezetimibe appears to be acceptable during breastfeeding. Ezetimibe in combination with a statin (e.g., atorvastatin, simvastatin) should be avoided in nursing mothers.
Quoted from Ezetimibe — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised July 15, 2026.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of ezetimibe. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much ezetimibe gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Two nursing mothers taking ezetimibe 10 mg daily donated a total of 15 milk samples for analysis of ezetimibe and ezetimibe glucuronide. In one mother, the highest drug concentrations were found in hindmilk at 2.08 hours after a dose. The ezetimibe concentration was 0.95 mcg/L, and the glucuronide concentration was 1.39 mcg/L. In the second mother, the highest ezetimibe concentration of 0.98 mcg/L occurred 5.22 hours after a dose between feedings and the highest ezetimibe glucuronide concentration of 2.65 mcg/L occurred 8.47 hours after a dose just after feeding. These values result in a total ezetimibe plus ezetimibe glucuronide relative infant dosages of about 0.16% and 0.25%, respectively. A computer model of ezetimibe during nursing was consistent with the observed levels and indicated that predicted serum levels in infants were considerably lower than in adults.
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 ezetimibe while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Ezetimibe 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 ezetimibe while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Cholestyramine, Colesevelam, Colestipol 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 ezetimibe pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for ezetimibe are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking ezetimibe?
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 ezetimibe
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.