Is Desloratadine 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 Desloratadine. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Because of its expected low milk levels and lack of sedation and anticholinergic effects, maternal use of desloratadine is unlikely to affect a breastfed infant or milk production. Desloratadine might have a negative effect on lactation in combination with a sympathomimetic agent such as pseudoephedrine.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Antihistamines in relatively high doses given by injection can decrease basal serum prolactin in nonlactating women and in early postpartum women.[2,3] However, suckling-induced prolactin secretion is not affected by antihistamine pretreatment of postpartum mothers.[2] Whether lower oral doses of antihistamines have the same effect on serum prolactin or whether the effects on prolactin have any consequences on breastfeeding success have not been studied. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Levels in milk
Desloratadine is the active metabolite of loratadine and is marketed separately as a drug product.
Maternal Levels. Milk levels have not been measured after desloratadine administration. However, after a single oral dose of 40 mg of its parent compound loratadine in 6 women, average desloratadine peak milk levels of 16 mcg/L (range 9 to 29.6 mcg/L) were measured. The total amount excreted in milk over 48 hours was 6 mcg (range 3.7 to 11.6 mcg). However, the loratadine dose was 10 times the recommended dose of desloratadine of 5 mg, assuming 100% conversion of loratadine to desloratadine and adjusting for the differences in molecular weight. The calculated maximum expected doses of desloratadine in milk was 0.42% of the maternal weight-adjusted dose of loratadine after the 40 mg loratadine dose.[1]
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Desloratadine” (LM82). 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.