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Can you take ibandronate while breastfeeding?

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the NIH/NLM Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) sourcesUpdated Apr 19, 2021How we research

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.

Ibandronate is poorly absorbed orally (average in adults 6% on an empty stomach, negligible with food), so absorption of ibandronate by a breastfed infant is unlikely. However, since no information is available on the use of ibandronate during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Quoted from Ibandronate — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised April 19, 2021.

What LactMed would consider instead

LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of ibandronate. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.

  • Pamidronate

How much ibandronate 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

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take ibandronate while breastfeeding?

What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Ibandronate 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 ibandronate while breastfeeding?

LactMed lists Pamidronate 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 ibandronate pass into breastmilk?

LactMed's measured drug levels for ibandronate are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".

Do I need to pump and dump after taking ibandronate?

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 ibandronate

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.