Can you take linaclotide 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.
Linaclotide is minimally absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and the drug and its active metabolite are not measurable in milk following administration of doses up to 290 mcg daily. Linaclotide appears to be acceptable in nursing mothers and no special precautions are required.
Quoted from Linaclotide — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised June 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of linaclotide. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Lubiprostone
- Plecanatide
- Polyethylene Glycol
- Psyllium
- Tenapanor
How much linaclotide gets into breastmilk
Linaclotide is metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract to its active metabolite, MM-419447.
Maternal Levels. In a multicenter study, 7 lactating women were taking linaclotide in doses of 72 mcg (n = 5), 145 mcg (n = 1) or 290 mcg (n = 1) once daily. Milk was pumped on day 1 and day 3 of the study. Over 24-hours of milk collection on day 3, concentrations of linaclotide and MM-419447 in milk samples were below the quantitation limits (<0.25 mcg/L and <1 mcg/L, respectively) at all time points in all participants.
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 linaclotide while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Linaclotide 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 linaclotide while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Lubiprostone, Plecanatide, Polyethylene Glycol, Psyllium, Tenapanor 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 linaclotide pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for linaclotide are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking linaclotide?
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 linaclotide
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.