Is Cisapride safe while breastfeeding?

Here is what LactMed, the Drugs and Lactation Database published by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reports about Cisapride. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.

Summary of use during breastfeeding

Cisapride was removed from the market in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because of cardiac toxicity. Because of the low levels of cisapride in breastmilk, its use is acceptable in nursing mothers if it is required.

Effects on the breastfed infant

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.

Levels in milk

Maternal Levels. Ten women who averaged 1.2 days postpartum were given cisapride 20 mg orally every 8 hours for 4 days. Cisapride milk samples obtained before and 1 hour after the midday dose on day 4 were 4.8 mcg/L and 6.2 mcg/L, respectively.[1] The peak concentration corresponds to a maximum dose of 0.93 mcg/kg daily which is less that the 0.6 to 0.8 mg/kg daily infant dosage and about 0.1% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Alternatives LactMed lists

“No published information” means the studies do not exist yet — not that Cisapride is known to be harmful, and not that it is known to be safe. Your prescriber or pharmacist can weigh your baby's age and whether a better-studied alternative would do the same job. Worth asking before stopping a medicine you need.

Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Cisapride” (LM621). LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.