1

AAP category for breastfeeding by American Academy Pediatrics, 2001

(http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-approved-meds.html)
Lactation Risk Categories: L1 (safest), L2 (safer), L3 (moderately safe),
L4 (possibly hazardous) , L5 (contraindicated) , NR: Not Reviewed
Generic name Lactation Risk Category
Analgesics
Acetaminophen L1
Colchicine L4
Nefopam NR
NSAIDs
Dipyrone NR
Flufenamic acid NR
Ibuprofen L1
Indomethacin L3
Ketorolac L2
Mefenamic acid NR
Naproxen
L3
L4 (for chronic use)
Phenylbutazone NR
Piroxicam L2
Suprofen NR
Tolmetin L3
Butorphanol L3
Narcotic analgesics
Codeine L3
Fentanyl L2
Meperidine
L2
L3 (if used early postpartum)
Methadone L3
Morphine L3
Propoxyphene L2
Anesthesia, Anesthetics
Halothane L2
Lidocaine L2
Methohexital L3
Thiopental L3
Antacids, GI meds
Cimetidine L2
Cisapride (GI tract stimulant) L2
Domperidone (used for nausea & vomiting,
stimulates lactation)
L1
Antimicrobials
Amoxicillin L1
Aztreonam L2
Cefadroxil L1

2
Generic name Lactation Risk Category
Cefazolin L1
Cefotaxime L2
Cefoxitin L1
Cefprozil L1
Ceftazidime L1
Ceftriaxone L2
Ciprofloxacin L3
Clindamycin L3
Erythromycin
L1
L3 early postnatal
Fleroxacin NR
Gentamicin L2
Kanamycin L2
Moxalactam NR
Nitrofurantoin L2
Ofloxacin L2
Penicillin L1
Streptomycin L3
Sulbactam NR
Sulfisoxazole L2
Tetracycline L2
Ticarcillin L1
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole L3
Anticoagulants
Bishydroxycoumarin (dicumarol) NR
Warfarin L2
Anticonvulsants
Carbamazepine L2
Ethosuximide L4
Magnesium sulfate L1
Phenytoin L2
Valproic acid L2
Antifungals
Fluconazole L2
Ketoconazole L2
Antihistamines
Fexofenadine L2
Loratadine L1
Terfenadine NR
Triprolidine L1
Antivirals
Acyclovir L2
Interferon-alpha L2
Arthritis meds
Gold salts L5

3
Generic name Lactation Risk Category
Asthma meds
Terbutaline L2
Theophylline L3
Contraceptives, Hormones
Estradiol L3 (may interfere with milk production)
Clogestone NR
Contraceptive pill with estrogen/progesterone L3 (may interfere with milk production)
Levonorgestrel L2
Medroxyprogesterone
L1
L4 (if used first 3 days postpartum)
Norethynodrel L2
Progesterone L3
Cough meds
Codeine L3
Noscapine NR
Decongestants
Pseudoephedrine
L3 (for acute use)
L4 (for chronic use)
Diabetes meds
Tolbutamide L3
Diarrhea meds
Loperamide L2
Diuretics
Acetazolamide L2
Bendroflumethiazide L4 (may inhibit lactation)
Chlorothiazide L3
Chlorthalidone L3
Hydrochlorothiazide L2
Spironolactone L2
Galactagogues
Domperidone L1
Antiarrhythmics
Disopyramide L2
Flecainide L3
Mexiletine L2
Procainamide L3
Quinidine L2
Antihypertensives
Captopril L3 (if used after 30 days)
Diltiazem/Diltiazem HCL L3
Enalapril/Enalapril Maleate L2
Hydralazine L2
Labetalol L2
Methyldopa L2
Metoprolol L3

4
Generic name Lactation Risk Category
Minoxidil
L2 (topically)
L3 (orally)
Nadolol L4
Nifedipine L2
Oxprenolol NR
Propranolol L2
Sotalol L3
Timolol L2
Verapamil L2
Cardiac stimulants
Digoxin L2
Laxatives
Cascara/Cascara Sagrada L3
Danthron NR
Magnesium sulfate L1
Senna L3
Malaria meds
Chloroquine L3
Hydroxychloroquine L2
Pyrimethamine L4
Quinine L2
Medical Testing
Diatrizoate NR
Fluorescein L3
Gadopentetic (Gadolinium) L2
Iohexol L2
Iopanoic acid L2
Metrizamide L2
Metrizoate L2
Migraine meds
Sumatriptan L3
Sedatives
Chloral hydrate L3
Methyprylon (withdrawn from use in US & Canada) NR
Bromide L5
Secobarbital L3
Sleep Aids
Zolpidem/Zolpidem Tartrate L3
Steroids
Methylprednisolone L2
Prednisolone L2
Prednisone L2
Thyroid meds
Carbimazole L3
Methimazole (active metabolite of carbimazole) L3

5
Generic name Lactation Risk Category
Propylthiouracil L2
Thiouracil NR
Levothyroxine L1
Tuberculosis meds
Cycloserine L3
Ethambutol L2
Isoniazid L3
Rifampin L2
Vitamins
B-1 (thiamine) NR
B-12 (Cyanocobalamin) L1
B-6 (pyridoxine)
L2; L4 in high doses (may inhibit
lactation)
D, vitamin L3 (do not overdose)
Folic acid L1
K-1, vitamin (Phytonadione) L1
Riboflavin/B
2
L1
Miscellaneous
Acitretin (Anti-psoriasis) NR
Alcohol/Ethanol L3
Allopurinol L2
Antimony NR
Atropine (Anticholinergic, drying agent) L3
Azapropazone/apazone (Antirheumatic) L2
Baclofen (muscle relaxant) L2
Barbiturate NR
Caffeine L2
Carbetocin (Antihemorrhagic) NR
Chloroform NR
Cisplatin (Anti-cancer) L4
Dapsone (Antileprosy) L4
Hydroxychloroquine (Antirheumatic, lupus) L2
Iodides NR
Iodine NR
Iodine (povidone-iodine, eg, in a vaginal douche) NR
Ivermectin (Antiparasitic) L3
Nalidixic acid (Urinary Anti-infective) L4
Norsteroids NR
Pyridostigmine (Muscle stimulant) L2
Scopolamine (Motion sickness) L3
Sulfapyridine NR
Timolol (glaucoma med) L3