Can you take trihexyphenidyl 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 trihexyphenidyl up to 4 mg daily together with haloperidol or risperidone did not produce any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Long-term use of trihexyphenidyl might reduce milk production or milk letdown, but a single dose is not likely to interfere with breastfeeding. The prolactin elevating effect of concurrent antipsychotic agents might counteract any prolactin lowering effect of trihexyphenidyl. During long-term use, observe for signs of decreased lactation (e.g., infant insatiety and poor weight gain).
Quoted from Trihexyphenidyl — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised February 15, 2024.
How much trihexyphenidyl 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 woman with schizophrenia took trihexyphenidyl and haloperidol during 3 pregnancies and postpartum. The trihexyphenidyl dose was 4 mg daily in all 3 pregnancies. She breastfed (extent not stated) all 3 children for 6 to 8 months using the same doses. Development was age-appropriate in all children aged 16 months at 8 years of age at the time of assessment.
A woman diagnosed with undifferentiated schizophrenia took risperidone 4 to 5 mg and trihexyphenidyl 2 mg daily throughout 5 pregnancies. She breastfed each infant for 20 to 24 months. No adverse developmental consequences were noted in any of the children. At the time of publication, the oldest three children, aged 26, 23 and 22 years, had completed their education and were employed, while the youngest two were 15 and 19 years old and were doing well academically in their education.
Effects on milk supply
Anticholinergics can inhibit lactation in animals, apparently by inhibiting growth hormone and oxytocin secretion. Anticholinergic drugs can also reduce serum prolactin in nonnursing women. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
One woman with schizophrenia took trihexyphenidyl and haloperidol during 3 pregnancies and postpartum. She was able to breastfeed (extent not stated) all 3 children for 6 to 8 months.
A woman diagnosed with undifferentiated schizophrenia took risperidone 4 to 5 mg and trihexyphenidyl 2 mg daily throughout 5 pregnancies. She successfully breastfed each infant for 20 to 24 months.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take trihexyphenidyl while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Trihexyphenidyl 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 trihexyphenidyl pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for trihexyphenidyl are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking trihexyphenidyl?
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 trihexyphenidyl
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.