Can you take mepenzolate 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.
No information is available on the use of mepenzolate during breastfeeding. Because mepenzolate is a quaternary ammonium compound, it is not likely to be absorbed and reach the bloodstream of the infant. Long-term use of mepenzolate might reduce milk production or milk letdown. During long-term use, observe for signs of decreased lactation (e.g., insatiety, poor weight gain).
Quoted from Mepenzolate — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised April 19, 2021.
How much mepenzolate 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
Anticholinergics can inhibit lactation in animals, apparently by inhibiting growth hormone and oxytocin secretion. Anticholinergic drugs can also reduce serum prolactin in nonnursing women. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take mepenzolate while breastfeeding?
No information is available on the use of mepenzolate 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 mepenzolate pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for mepenzolate are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking mepenzolate?
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 mepenzolate
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.