Can you take quinidine 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 information indicates that maternal doses of quinidine up to 1.8 grams daily produce low levels in milk and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants, especially if the infant is older than 2 months. Exclusively breastfed infants should be carefully monitored if this drug is used during lactation, possibly including measurement of serum levels to rule out toxicity if there is a concern.
Quoted from Quinidine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised July 15, 2024.
How much quinidine gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. In one case report, a quinidine milk level of 6.4 mg/L was reported 3 hours after a dose while taking 600 mg every 8 hours orally of a sustained-release quinidine sulfate preparation (Quninidex). In the same patient, a random milk level of 8.2 mg/L was also measured. Data from this case indicate that a breastfed infant would receive about 3 to 4% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage of quinidine.
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 quinidine while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Quinidine 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.
Does quinidine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for quinidine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking quinidine?
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 quinidine
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.