Can You Take Tirzepatide While Breastfeeding?
It’s hard to know what medications you should and shouldn’t take while breastfeeding. You don’t want to take anything that could possibly affect your baby through breast milk. You also don’t want to start a medicine with side effects that might make it difficult to take care of your baby. But what if you need or want to start weight loss medication? What if your health could be at stake if you don’t take it? Is it safe to take Tirzepatide while you’re still breastfeeding?
Weight Loss Medication And Unexpected Pregnancy
When you start a weight loss medication, you expect to lose weight. While most people will lose weight, some women gain something else in the process.
There’s a surprising number of women who take semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and find themselves unexpectedly pregnant. Doctors don’t know exactly what the connection is between these drugs and surprise pregnancies, but there are a couple of theories.
One possible reason for these pregnancies is that losing weight can help with infertility. When our bodies carry too much weight it can affect a lot of functions–including the reproductive system. When you lose this extra weight, your menstrual cycle (and ovulation) switch to more of a regular pattern. This can help you have a better chance of conceiving.
Tirzepatide also slows down your digestion and can impact the time it takes for your body to absorb medicine. This might mean oral medication–like birth control pills–won’t be as effective and could lead to an unexpected pregnancy.
Is It Safe To Use Tirzepatide During Pregnancy?
Unless your doctor prescribes a medication like Tirzepatide to help regulate blood sugar levels, you shouldn’t take weight loss drugs while you’re pregnant. There hasn’t been enough research yet on all the ways the body would react to Tirzepatide if you’re pregnant. Plus, weight loss is a side effect even when you’re taking Tirzepatide for diabetes, and doctors don’t usually recommend you lose weight when you’re expecting a baby.
Breastfeeding And Tirzepatide
Okay, so you can’t take Tirzepatide when you’re pregnant. What about once you’ve had your baby? Well, that depends. Are you bottle feeding or breastfeeding? If you’re bottle feeding, you can take Tirzepatide–as long as your doctor says it’s fine. (You can also eat all the spicy food your body can take without tainting your milk supply.)
If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll have to be more careful. There’s no proof that Tirzepatide can reach your baby through breast milk, but there isn’t solid proof that it won’t either. A lot of women need or want to lose their “baby weight” after pregnancy. While weight loss medication can help you drop the pounds, it’s a good idea to wait until you’re done breastfeeding to start your Tirzepatide injections.
How Long Does It Take For Tirzepatide To Leave Your System?
You’ve been on a weight loss drug for a little while, and so far it’s been great. You’ve lost weight and kept it off. Then you start feeling tired and nauseous–like, all the time. So you take a pregnancy test, and lo and behold, you’re about to add another member to your family.
You know it’s not good to stay on Tirzepatide while you’re pregnant, so you stop your injections. But how long will it take before Tirzepatide is out of your system and you can feel better about having a safe pregnancy?
The time it takes for half of your Tirzepatide injection to leave your body is five days. Once you’re past that time, your body continues clearing the medicine from all systems for a total of twenty-five days. It’s important to call your doctor as soon as you find out you’re pregnant since they may have other tips for how to help flush the medication from your body.
Breastfeeding And Tirzepatide
There isn’t enough information to say if weight loss medication will or won’t have a negative effect on your baby while you’re breastfeeding. It’s best to wait until you’ve weaned your youngest off your milk and onto solid foods before you start Tirzepatide injections.
It’s not easy to find time in your schedule to lose weight and raise a baby. When you’re ready to lose weight, reach out to Allure Esthetic. Our team of providers can match you with a weight loss program that’s designed specifically for you. Call or text us at (206) 209-0988 to schedule your consultation today.