Can you take ipratropium 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.
Although no published data exist on the use of ipratropium, its use produces negligible maternal serum levels and any drug in breastmilk would not be absorbed by the infant. The risk to the breastfed infant of maternal ipratropium inhalation is small. Breastfeeding can be continued during ipratropium therapy.
Quoted from Ipratropium — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised January 15, 2026.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of ipratropium. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much ipratropium 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 ipratropium while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Ipratropium 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 ipratropium while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Albuterol, Salmeterol 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 ipratropium pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for ipratropium are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking ipratropium?
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 ipratropium
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.