Can you take iron sucrose 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.
Limited data indicate that breastmilk iron is not increased after intravenous infusion of iron sucrose. Amounts of iron ingested by the infant would be normal and are not expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. The oral form of the drug, called sucroferric oxyhydroxide and used as a phosphate binder, is not orally absorbed and it is unlikely to reach the breastmilk or adversely affect the breastfed infant. No special precautions are required. For additional information on iron use during breastfeeding, see the monograph on Iron Salts.
Quoted from Iron Sucrose — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised August 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of iron sucrose. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much iron sucrose gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Ten mothers who were iron deficient at 2 to 3 days postpartum received a single 100 mg dose of intravenous iron sucrose. The iron concentration in their colostrum was compared to those in 5 similar women who received no iron. Colostrum collected daily for 4 days after the injection contained average iron concentrations between 0.3 and 0.45 mg/kg of milk which is in the low end of the range for postpartum women. No difference in milk iron concentration was found between the treated and control mothers.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
In a study of 104 women with postpartum anemia, 78 women received 300 mg of intravenous iron sucrose over 3 days. All women were breastfeeding and had amenorrhea. No adverse reactions were reported in their infants.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take iron sucrose while breastfeeding?
Limited data indicate that breastmilk iron is not increased after intravenous infusion of iron sucrose. 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 iron sucrose while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Ferric Carboxymaltose, Ferric Derisomaltose 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 iron sucrose pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for iron sucrose are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking iron sucrose?
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 iron sucrose
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.