Can you take mesoridazine 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.
Mesoridazine is no longer marketed in the United States. Because there is no published experience with mesoridazine during breastfeeding, other antipsychotic agents are preferred.
Quoted from Mesoridazine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised March 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of mesoridazine. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much mesoridazine 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
Phenothiazines cause galactorrhea in 26 to 40% of female patients. Hyperprolactinemia appears to be the cause of the galactorrhea. The hyperprolactinemia is caused by the drug's dopamine-blocking action in the tuberoinfundibular pathway. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take mesoridazine while breastfeeding?
Mesoridazine is no longer marketed in the United States. 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 mesoridazine while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone 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 mesoridazine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for mesoridazine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking mesoridazine?
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 mesoridazine
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.