Can you take torsemide 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.
Because little information is available on the use of torsemide during breastfeeding and because intense diuresis might decrease lactation, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Low doses of torsemide may not suppress lactation.
Quoted from Torsemide — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised August 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of torsemide. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much torsemide 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
Intense diuresis, fluid restriction and breast binding have been used to suppress lactation immediately postpartum. The added contribution of the diuretic to the other measures, which are effective in suppressing lactation, has not been studied.
Women who delivered following pre-eclampsia were randomized to receive either torsemide 20 mg daily or placebo for 5 days starting within 24 hours after delivery. Eighty percent of the women who received torsemide and 75% of women who received placebo breastfed. One mother who received torsemide and none who received placebo reported a decrease in breastmilk.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take torsemide while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Torsemide 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 torsemide while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Chlorothiazide, Hydrochlorothiazide 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 torsemide pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for torsemide are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking torsemide?
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 torsemide
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.