Is Triprolidine 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 Triprolidine. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Small, occasional doses of triprolidine would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Larger doses or more prolonged use may cause effects in the infant or decrease the milk supply, particularly in combination with a sympathomimetic such as pseudoephedrine or before lactation is well established. The nonsedating antihistamines are preferred alternatives.
Effects on the breastfed infant
In one telephone follow-up study, mothers reported irritability and colicky symptoms 10% of infants exposed to various antihistamines and drowsiness was reported in 1.6% of infants. None of the reactions required medical attention and none of the mothers were taking triprolidine.[2]
In one study, no infant side effects were reported in three infants whose mothers took one dose of triprolidine 2.5 mg and pseudoephedrine 60 mg.[1]
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.[3,4] However, suckling-induced prolactin secretion is not affected by antihistamine pretreatment of postpartum mothers.[3] 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
Maternal Levels. Single doses of triprolidine of 2.5 mg produced peak milk levels of about 7 to 9 mcg/L at about 1 to 2 hours after the dose in 3 women. Milk levels fell with half-lives ranging from 2.8 to 18.9 hours among the 3 mothers. The dose a fully breastfed infant would receive was calculated to be 0.6 to 0.2% of the mother's weight-adjusted dosage.[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 “Triprolidine” (LM271). 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.