Can you take rifamycin 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.
Rifamycin is negligibly absorbed orally and used only for gastrointestinal infections. It is not likely to reach the breastmilk or bloodstream of the infant or cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants after maternal use. If a mother requires rifamycin, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding.
Quoted from Rifamycin — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised February 15, 2025.
How much rifamycin 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 rifamycin while breastfeeding?
Rifamycin is negligibly absorbed orally and used only for gastrointestinal infections. 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 rifamycin pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for rifamycin are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking rifamycin?
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 rifamycin
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.