Can you take ezogabine 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.
Ezogabine is no longer marketed in the US. Because no information is available on use of ezogabine during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. If ezogabine is required by the mother, it is not necessarily a reason to discontinue breastfeeding, but monitor the infant for drowsiness, agitation, adequate weight gain, and developmental milestones, especially in younger, exclusively breastfed infants and when using combinations of drugs.
Quoted from Ezogabine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised January 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of ezogabine. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much ezogabine gets into breastmilk
In published reports of anticonvulsant use during breastfeeding, most women were taking a combination of anticonvulsants. Some other anticonvulsants (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine) stimulate the metabolism of other drugs including anticonvulsants, whereas others (e.g., valproic acid) inhibit the metabolism of other drugs. Therefore, the relationship of the maternal dosage to the concentration in breastmilk can be quite variable, making calculation of the weight-adjusted percentage of maternal dosage less meaningful than for other drugs in this database.
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
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 ezogabine while breastfeeding?
Ezogabine is no longer marketed in the US. 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 ezogabine while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Carbamazepine, Divalproex, Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Oxcarbazepine, Phenytoin, Valproic Acid 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 ezogabine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for ezogabine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking ezogabine?
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 ezogabine
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.