A member asked:
If i use a steroid inhaler for my asthma, is it dangerous to nurse my baby?
11 doctor answers • 34 doctors weighed in
Dr. Alan Greeneanswered
Pediatrics 36 years experience
No: Using a steroid inhaler is not a reason to stop nursing a healthy baby. The known benefits of breast milk far outweigh any theoretical risks from the medication. You absorb only a small amount of the steroid from your inhaler into your bloodstream. Only a tiny amount of that small amount would make it into breast milk - perhaps not even a detectable amount at all.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Oluwatobi Amosunanswered
Specializes in Pediatrics
No: Inhaled steroids generally have limited entry into the bloodstream, since they act locally in the lung tissue. However, most inhaled steroids are listed as category c medications, meaning their effect on a growing baby is unknown. It is best to discuss the risks and benefits of these medications with your obstetrician.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Boyan Hadjievanswered
Internal Medicine 23 years experience
No: No. Dr greene has a great explanation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Boyan Hadjievanswered
Internal Medicine 23 years experience
No: Forgot to mention that as of right now, there is one inhaled corticorsteroid, which is in the pregnancy category b classification. It is called Budesonide (trade name is pulmicort), and if you are feeling uncertain about breastfeeding and asthma inhalers, you may want to try that particular type of inhaler.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Steven Machtinger commented
Allergy and Immunology 46 years experience
But there are no reports of adverse reactions in breastfed infants whose mothers use inhaled corticosteroids for asthma or allergic rhinitis. Using inhaled corticosteroids decreases the likelihood of needing oral or systemic corticosteroids like prednisone that could enter the breast milk in measurable amounts.
Nov 12, 2011
Dr. Manav Singlaanswered
Allergy and Immunology 25 years experience
No: Consult your OB or peds, but basically, no, it is not dangerous. Very little of the medicine gets into the breast milk. Remember, if you cannot breath well (from lack of medicine) then you won't be able to focus and give your baby the best of care.
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6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Richard Greeneanswered
Pediatrics 54 years experience
No: There is no significant amount of the corticosteroid carried into breast milk.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Steven Machtingeranswered
Allergy and Immunology 46 years experience
No: There are no reports of adverse reactions in breastfed infants whose mothers use inhaled corticosteroids for asthma or allergic rhinitis. Using inhaled corticosteroids decreases the likelihood of needing oral or systemic corticosteroids like Prednisone that could enter the breast milk in measurable amounts. Lastly, infants are given inhaled corticosteroids directly & safely for their own wheezing.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Maziar Rezvanianswered
Allergy and Immunology 23 years experience
Possibly: Inhaled budesonide, a category b inhaled steroid is still questionable in nursing. Data with Budesonide delivered via dry powder inhaler indicates that the total daily oral dose of Budesonide in breast milk to the infant is approximately 0.3% to 1% of the dose inhaled by the mother. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering Budesonide inhalation to nursing women.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Jack Mutnickanswered
Allergy and Immunology 19 years experience
This is Safe: 5, 000 people die from asthma attacks yearly. 500, 000 are hospitalized for asthma exacerbations. Virtually no inhaled corticosteroid is passed through breast milk. And more importantly, it is safer for you to have your asthma under good control to safely nurse your baby than to have an asthma exacerbation which could hurt both you and the child. Keep using your medication.
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. John Kayvanfar commented
Sports Medicine 48 years experience
We have found in our practice local Honey Hives, with calcium and vit D(milk) helps with this situation.
Jan 14, 2012
Dr. Steven Machtinger commented
Allergy and Immunology 46 years experience
Because of the risk of infant botulism feeding honey to a nursing infant is certainly riskier for the infant than receiving breast milk from a mother using an inhaled corticosteroid.
Jan 15, 2012
Dr. Cheryl Coldwateranswered
Pediatrics 40 years experience
No: No, using the inhaler to keep your asthma under control is important and will not harm the baby. You should always tell your doctor that you are nursing before taking any medication, though. They can let you know whether or not the medicine is safe to use while nursing.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Bhavin Patelanswered
Allergy and Immunology 27 years experience
NO: The amount of steroid that is present in the body after inhalation is very little, and there may not be any amount in the breast milk. However, large doses of inhaled steroids can be equivalent to oral steroid doses. But at the recommended doses there is very little, in trace amounts of active steroid left in the body.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 28, 2019
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