Can You Take Mounjaro While Breastfeeding?

Monitoring what you put into your body doesn't stop after rolling out of the delivery room. If you're breastfeeding and considering taking a blood sugar medication like Mounjaro, you'll want to talk to your doctor first, as these types of medications may not be safe for your specific situation. 

Because Mounjaro (which contains the active ingredient tirzepatide) is relatively new, we still don't know if it's safe for people who are breastfeeding. Here's everything you need to know about taking Mounjaro while breastfeeding.

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What Is Mounjaro? A Recap

Mounjaro is a once-weekly injectable medication for type 2 diabetes that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. The active ingredient in it is tirzepatide. Unlike other GLP-1 receptor agonist, like Ozempic (semaglutide), Mounjaro is a dual-action medication because it mimics not one but two key hormones, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). 

Mounjaro was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 to treat type 2 diabetes but not for type 1 diabetes treatment. In November 2023, the FDA approved tirzepatide as a weight-loss drug when sold under the brand name Zepbound because it helps slow digestion, reduce appetite, and promote satiety. 

Mounjaro and Zepbound contain the same active ingredient (tirzepatide), but Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, while Zepbound is FDA-approved as a weight loss medication.

Though tirzepatide shows promising effects for weight loss and glucose management, we still need more long-term research to fully understand how this medication affects different types of people, including pregnant and breastfeeding women.¹

Mounjaro During Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

Using Mounjaro (tirzepatide) during pregnancy is generally not recommended because we don't have enough clinical trials yet to confirm its safety for expecting mothers. 

While Mounjaro and other GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, help regulate blood sugar by increasing insulin release, animal studies suggest that these medications could potentially pose risks to fetal development and may cause birth defects. It's also worth noting that unmanaged diabetes can increase the chance of birth defects, so it's important that you work with your doctor to maintain healthy glucose levels throughout your pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend alternatives to Mounjaro to help control your blood glucose levels while pregnant or breastfeeding. 

Mounjaro has possible side effects that you may not want to deal with postpartum. Some of the most common side effects of Mounjaro include nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, and stomach pain. These side effects may affect your ability to breastfeed or care for your baby.

Most healthcare providers advise stopping Mounjaro if you're planning to get pregnant or have a confirmed pregnancy.^{2, 3}

Can You Breastfeed on Mounjaro?

If you stopped taking Mounjaro once you learned you were pregnant, you're probably wondering whether you can start taking it again now that the baby's born. If you're breastfeeding, you'll want to consider Mounjaro's potential effects on your breastfed infant.

Currently, we don't have enough information on the safety of using Mounjaro while breastfeeding. 

Because Mounjaro and other GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide are pretty new, we don't have any studies specifically looking at their transfer into breast milk and potential effects on nursing infants. We still don't know if the medication can pass through breast milk in significant amounts and whether or not it affects breastfed babies.

As a precaution, healthcare professionals advise against using Mounjaro while breastfeeding until we have more safety data. Always talk to your doctor before deciding to take Mounjaro or any other medications, especially while breastfeeding.

<div class="pro-tip"><strong>Learn More: </strong><a href=what-is-mounjaro-used-for>What Is Mounjaro Used For? What You Need to Know</a>.</div>

How Long Does Mounjaro Stay in Your System?

The time it takes to metabolize (break down) medication varies from person to person. In most adults, tirzepatide typically clears from the body within 30 days after the last dose.

If you're currently on Mounjaro and planning to get pregnant, you'll want to talk to your doctor about the best time to stop taking your medication. Don't quit it cold turkey before speaking to your healthcare professional.

Tirzepatide may affect how the body absorbs oral contraceptives and may raise your risk of getting pregnant, even if you're taking your birth control pills consistently. It's recommended to switch to non-oral birth control or add a barrier method, like condoms, for 4 weeks after starting tirzepatide and after each dose increase. Talk to your healthcare provider about non-oral birth control and other options to prevent pregnancy while on Mounjaro.^{3, 4}

4 Alternatives to Mounjaro While Breastfeeding

If you're managing type 2 diabetes while nursing, your doctor might recommend alternative treatments to Mounjaro. Many medications have been around longer and have a more established safety record. 

Below is a list of safe medications that you can use to control blood sugar levels while breastfeeding.

Insulin

To manage blood sugar safely, your doctor may recommend insulin, a first-choice drug for controlling blood glucose during pregnancy. Insulin is safe when you're pregnant and breastfeeding because it doesn't cross the placenta or get into your breast milk. Breastfeeding may mess with your blood glucose and change the amount of insulin you may need to take, so speak with your doctor about whether you need to adjust your dosage. 

Metformin

Metformin is a type of biguanide drug that's used to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It's a good alternative to Mounjaro because it has a more established track record and is considered safe for pregnant and breastfeeding people.

Glipizide

Glipizide is an oral medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the class of drugs known as sulfonylureas, which stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin, lowering blood sugar levels. Older research shows that glipizide wasn't detected in breast milk and didn't cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in nursing infants.

Glyburide

Another type of sulfonylurea, glyburide is safe for breastfeeding people. The above research shows glyburide wasn't detected in breast milk and isn't linked to hypoglycemia in breastfed infants.^{5, 6, 7}

Learn More About Diabetes and Managing Blood Sugar Levels With Signos’ Expert Advice

Before taking any medication, it's important to talk to your doctor about potential side effects to help you understand the possible risks and benefits of the drug. Always discuss medication side effects, risks, and benefits with your doctor. Signos is here to help you get all the information you need so you're equipped with prior knowledge before that doctor's visit. 

‍Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) help you better understand what affects your blood sugar levels—and how—so you can take control of your health. By logging your food intake with Signos, you can easily track your glucose levels, identify foods that cause spikes, and get exercise recommendations to lower your blood glucose levels. And you can learn even more about blood sugar levels on Signos’ blog.

Ready to try CGMs? Take this quick quiz to find out if Signos is right for you.

<div class="pro-tip"><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href=metformin-benefits-for-non-diabetics>7 Metformin Benefits For People Without Diabetes</a>.</div>