Can you breastfeed while taking Ozempic® or Mounjaro®?

Usually no. Most clinical guidance recommends avoiding GLP-1 medications (semaglutide or tirzepatide) while breastfeeding because infant safety has not been established.

Why do clinicians recommend avoiding GLP-1 medications during breastfeeding?

Because there are no large, controlled lactation safety trials, infant effects are unknown, and it’s unclear whether these medications affect milk supply or milk composition.

What does the FDA say about semaglutide or tirzepatide while breastfeeding?

FDA labeling is cautious and states that data are insufficient to assess effects on a breastfed infant and that lactation-related risks are not well defined.

If a baby ingests trace GLP-1 medication through breast milk, will it be absorbed?

Absorption is thought to be unlikely. These medications are large peptide molecules with poor oral bioavailability and are expected to be broken down in the infant’s stomach like dietary protein.

If transfer is low, why isn’t breastfeeding on GLP-1s considered proven safe?

Very low or undetectable levels are reassuring but do not prove safety. Long-term infant outcomes, effects on milk supply, and safety in newborns or preterm infants remain unknown.

Is semaglutide (Ozempic® or Wegovy®) safe while breastfeeding?

Safety is not established. Small human milk studies have found semaglutide can be undetectable, but medical guidance remains cautious because infant effects and lactation impacts are not well studied.

Do GLP-1 medications affect milk supply?

It is unknown. Current guidance states that effects on milk volume and milk composition have not been established.

When should I stop semaglutide before a planned pregnancy?

Wegovy® labeling recommends stopping semaglutide at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.

How long does semaglutide stay in the body after stopping?

Semaglutide has an approximate half-life of about 1 week, so substantial elimination typically takes about 5–7 weeks.

How long does tirzepatide stay in the body after stopping?

Tirzepatide has an approximate half-life of about 5 days, so substantial elimination typically takes around 4 weeks.

Does drug washout mean breastfeeding is safe afterward?

Not necessarily. Washout describes drug clearance from the body but does not prove infant safety or address the lack of lactation outcome data.

Breastfeeding on Ozempic® or Mounjaro®: Is Semaglutide or Tirzepatide Safe?

Q: Do semaglutide and tirzepatide pass into breast milk?

Available evidence suggests that if they appear in milk, levels are very low. Small human data show semaglutide can be undetectable in milk samples, and LactMed summarizes tirzepatide as usually undetectable in limited data.

Q: Is tirzepatide (Mounjaro® or Zepbound®) safe while breastfeeding?

Safety is not established. LactMed notes tirzepatide is usually undetectable in breast milk and unlikely to be absorbed by the infant, but FDA labeling still treats infant risk as unknown due to limited data.

Joshua Silva, MD
Feb 9
4 min read

Medically authored by Joshua Silva, MD | Evidence-Based Weight Loss at Potere Health MD

Can you breastfeed while taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic® or Mounjaro®?

Most clinical guidance recommends avoiding breastfeeding while taking GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®). Because safety is not established, the FDA states that effects on the breastfed infant are unknown, despite limited data suggesting these medications transfer poorly into breast milk.¹,²

Note: “Undetectable levels” are reassuring, but they are not the same as proven safety.

What clinicians consider when advising against GLP-1 use during breastfeeding

Lack of large, controlled lactation safety trials
Unknown effects on infant growth or neurodevelopment
Uncertainty about effects on milk supply or composition
Elective nature of GLP-1 therapy for weight loss
Availability of safer alternatives after breastfeeding ends

Why FDA and medical guidance remains cautious

FDA and specialty guidance emphasize caution during breastfeeding for several consistent reasons:

Insufficient data: FDA labeling states there are inadequate data on GLP-1 medication effects in breastfed infants.¹,²,⁵
Milk supply unknowns: It is not known whether GLP-1 medications affect milk supply (volume) or milk composition.¹,²
Infant vulnerability: Early infancy is a sensitive developmental period, increasing caution when medication effects are unknown.¹
Elective vs essential use: For weight management, potential maternal benefit often does not outweigh theoretical infant risk.¹,²,⁵

Do semaglutide and tirzepatide pass into breast milk?

Available evidence suggests semaglutide and tirzepatide, if present in breast milk, appear at very low levels. Semaglutide has been undetectable in human milk samples, and NIH LactMed reports tirzepatide is usually undetectable at doses up to 5 mg, suggesting potential infant exposure is low based on limited data.³,⁴

What is known vs unknown about GLP-1 medications in breast milk

Known:

Semaglutide has been undetectable in small human milk studies
Tirzepatide is usually undetectable in limited LactMed summaries
GLP-1 medications are large peptide molecules with poor oral absorption

Unknown:

Long-term infant health or developmental outcomes
Effects on milk supply or milk composition
Safety in newborn or preterm infants

Scientific explanation — peptide size and oral bioavailability

GLP-1 receptor agonists are large peptide molecules with high molecular weight, which limits their ability to diffuse from maternal blood into breast milk.³⁵ In addition, peptide drugs have poor oral bioavailability, meaning that even if small amounts are ingested, systemic absorption by the infant is unlikely.³,⁵

Plain-English explanation — why the baby’s stomach offers protection

GLP-1 medications are peptide-based and must be injected because the stomach destroys them. If an infant ingested trace amounts through breast milk, their stomach acid and digestive enzymes would likely degrade the medication just like a dietary protein, making systemic absorption into the bloodstream unlikely.³,⁵

Is tirzepatide (Zepbound® or Mounjaro®) safe for breastfeeding?

Safety is not established. NIH LactMed reports tirzepatide is usually undetectable in breast milk and unlikely to be absorbed by the infant, but FDA labeling still states that data are insufficient to assess infant risk.³ Because of this uncertainty, many clinicians recommend discontinuing tirzepatide when breastfeeding is planned.

Why tirzepatide is treated cautiously during breastfeeding

Limited human milk data compared with semaglutide
No long-term infant safety studies
FDA labeling continues to list lactation effects as unknown
Weight-loss use is elective in most breastfeeding patients

Comparison: Theoretical risk vs official guidance

Source	Stance	Key reasoning
FDA (tirzepatide)	Unknown / cautious	No data on presence in human milk; infant effects unknown.¹,²
FDA (semaglutide)	Cautious / pregnancy-specific	Wegovy® label advises stopping before pregnancy; lactation safety data are limited.⁵,⁶
NIH LactMed	Cautious optimism	Usually undetectable in milk; infant absorption unlikely due to poor oral bioavailability.³
Peer-reviewed studies	Low observed transfer	Small human studies show no detectable drug in milk samples.⁴

When should I stop Ozempic® or Zepbound® before pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Questions about stopping GLP-1 medications often overlap pregnancy and breastfeeding planning, but the guidance for each is different.

Consult the label: Wegovy® labeling recommends stopping semaglutide at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.⁶
Understand drug clearance: It generally takes about five half-lives for substantial elimination (≈ 5–7 weeks for semaglutide; ≈ 4 weeks for tirzepatide).⁷
Differentiate “clear” from “safe”: Drug clearance does not prove prior use is safe for lactation; it reflects pharmacokinetics only.³,⁴
Weigh the indication: More conservative avoidance is typically used for elective weight loss, while diabetes management may require individualized planning with obstetric care.³

Estimated washout timelines (drug clearance, not infant safety)

Medication	Approximate half-life	Estimated clearance window
Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®)	~1 week	~5–7 weeks
Tirzepatide (Zepbound®, Mounjaro®)	~5 days	~4 weeks
Liraglutide (Saxenda®)	~13 hours	~3–4 days

Bottom line — breastfeeding and GLP-1 medications

While no evidence proves harm, many clinicians currently recommend avoiding GLP-1 medications for weight loss during breastfeeding. These drugs are large peptides that likely transfer into milk at very low levels and are poorly absorbed orally, but without large safety trials, medical guidance prioritizes caution over theoretical reassurance.¹–³

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

About the Author

Dr. Joshua Silva, MD, is a licensed physician and Medical Director of Potere Health MD. He earned his medical degree from the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine and completed residency training in Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the University of Utah, where he also earned a master’s degree in Occupational Health. He later completed a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in health care administration at Ohio University.

Dr. Silva specializes in evidence-based weight management, including GLP-1 and GIP therapies such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. He provides in-person and virtual care for patients in Salt Lake City, St. George, and Cedar City, Utah.

References

Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection [prescribing information]. Eli Lilly and Company; 2023. Updated 2024. Accessed February 2026.https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/217806s000lbl.pdf
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection [prescribing information]. Eli Lilly and Company; 2022. Updated 2024. Accessed February 2026.https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/215866s000lbl.pdf
Tirzepatide. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). National Library of Medicine (US). Last revision January 15, 2026. Accessed February 2026.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK581488/
Diab H, Kumbhare S, Davies M, et al. Subcutaneous semaglutide during breastfeeding: infant safety regarding drug transfer into human milk. Nutrients. 2024;16(17):2886. doi:10.3390/nu16172886https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/17/2886
Semaglutide. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). National Library of Medicine (US). Last revision December 15, 2024. Accessed February 2026.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500980/
Wegovy (semaglutide) injection [prescribing information]. Novo Nordisk Inc; 2023. Updated 2024. Accessed February 2026.https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/215256s007lbl.pdf
Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection [prescribing information]. Eli Lilly and Company; 2023. Pharmacokinetics section. Accessed February 2026.https://pi.lilly.com/us/zepbound-uspi.pdf