Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Sumatriptan? Is Sumatriptan safe for nursing mother and child? Does Sumatriptan extracts into breast milk? Does Sumatriptan has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Sumatriptan influence milk supply or can Sumatriptan decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Sumatriptan lactation summary

Sumatriptan is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Sumatriptan is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Sumatriptan is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Sumatriptan does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Sumatriptan safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Sumatriptan usage in lactation

Until more information on other Triptan-related compounds are available Sumatriptan is thought to be the safest one because of both a low excretion into breast milk and a low gut absorption.

Answer by DrLact: About Sumatriptan usage in lactation

BBecause of the low levels of sumatriptan in breastmilk, amounts ingested by the infant are small. It also has poor oral bioavailability, further decreasing infant exposure to the drug. Some authors have suggested that withholding breastfeeding for 8 hours after a single subcutaneous injection would virtually eliminate infant exposure to the drug.[1] The manufacturer recommends withholding breastfeeding for 12 hours after a dose. Withholding breastfeeding might be helpful in extreme cases, such as in the mother of a preterm infant, but sumatriptan would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in most breastfed infants. One anecdotal report of lactation ceasing after a single injection of sumatriptan has not been verified.

Sumatriptan Side Effects in Breastfeeding

One author reported correspondence with the drug's manufacturer stating that of 3 women known to the manufacturer who used sumatriptan (dose and route unspecified) during breastfeeding none reported adverse effects on the infants.[2]

Sumatriptan Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

One author reported correspondence with the drug's manufacturer stating that 1 woman who used a single injection of sumatriptan (dose unspecified) during breastfeeding had a cessation of lactation.[2]

Alternate Drugs

Naratriptan(Low Risk)
Vortioxetine(Low Risk)
Frovatriptan(Low Risk)
Zolmitriptan(Low Risk)
Almotriptan(Low Risk)
Rizatriptan(Low Risk)
Rizatriptan(Low Risk)
Naratriptan(Low Risk)
Cisapride(Safe)
Frovatriptan(Low Risk)
Almotriptan(Low Risk)
Zolmitriptan(Low Risk)
Naratriptan(Low Risk)
Frovatriptan(Low Risk)
Zolmitriptan(Low Risk)
Almotriptan(Low Risk)
Rizatriptan(Low Risk)
Naratriptan(Low Risk)
Cocaine(Dangerous)
Frovatriptan(Low Risk)
Pseudoephedrine(Low Risk)
Almotriptan(Low Risk)
Zolmitriptan(Low Risk)
Phenylephrine(Low Risk)
Ergotamine(Unsafe)
Rizatriptan(Low Risk)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.