Can you take methoxsalen 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 methoxsalen during breastfeeding. Expert opinion indicates that due to the photosensitizing effects of methoxsalen, breastfeeding should be withheld for 24 hours after an oral dose to allow for 95% of the drug to be eliminated in the mother's urine. The same precaution probably applies to patients receiving methoxsalen as a part of therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Use of topical methoxsalen is not contraindicated during breastfeeding, but avoid direct contact of the treated skin with the skin of the infant.
Quoted from Methoxsalen — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised December 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of methoxsalen. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much methoxsalen 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 methoxsalen while breastfeeding?
No information is available on the use of methoxsalen 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.
What can I take instead of methoxsalen while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Adalimumab, Certolizumab Pegol, Etanercept, Infliximab, Phototherapy, Tretinoin 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 methoxsalen pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for methoxsalen are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking methoxsalen?
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 methoxsalen
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.