Can you take fluphenazine 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.
There is no published experience with fluphenazine during breastfeeding. Very limited long-term follow-up data indicate no adverse developmental effects when other phenothiazines are used alone. Because of the lack of published experience with fluphenazine during breastfeeding, other antipsychotic agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Monitor the infant for drowsiness and developmental milestones, especially if other antipsychotics are used concurrently.
Quoted from Fluphenazine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised August 15, 2023.
How much fluphenazine 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
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Like other phenothiazines, fluphenazine elevates serum prolactin and has caused galactorrhea. The elevation is related to serum levels and lasts 2 to 4 weeks with the depot injectable formulation. The maternal prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take fluphenazine while breastfeeding?
There is no published experience with fluphenazine during breastfeeding. 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 fluphenazine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for fluphenazine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking fluphenazine?
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 fluphenazine
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.