Can you take tiagabine 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.
Monitor the infant for drowsiness, adequate weight gain, and developmental milestones, especially in younger, exclusively breastfed infants and when using combinations of anticonvulsant or psychotropic drugs. Because there is very limited published experience with tiagabine during breastfeeding, other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Quoted from Tiagabine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised October 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of tiagabine. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much tiagabine 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
One mother breastfed her infant while taking tiagabine 24 mg and then 20 mg daily.
No adverse effects were reported in 10 newborns who were 4 to 23 days old who were breastfed during maternal intake of levetiracetam 1000 to 3000 mg daily. One mother was also taking tiagabine 30 mg daily, clobazam 45 mg daily and oxcarbazepine 600 mg daily.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take tiagabine while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Tiagabine 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.
What can I take instead of tiagabine while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Carbamazepine, Divalproex, Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Oxcarbazepine, Phenytoin, Valproic Acid 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 tiagabine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for tiagabine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking tiagabine?
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 tiagabine
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.