U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.

Cover of Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®)

Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet].

Show details

Exenatide

Last Revision: June 20, 2022.

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

CASRN: 141758-74-9

image 135261286 in the ncbi pubchem database

Drug Levels and Effects

Summary of Use during Lactation

No information is available on the clinical use of exenatide during breastfeeding. Because exenatide is a large peptide molecule with a molecular weight of 4187 daltons, the amount in milk is likely to be very low and absorption is unlikely because it is probably partially destroyed in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. It has a short half-life, which might make it a better choice among drugs in this class for nursing mothers. If exenatide is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding. However, until more data become available, exenatide should be used with caution during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Alternate Drugs to Consider

Acarbose, Glipizide, Glyburide, Insulin, Metformin, Miglitol

Substance Identification

Substance Name

Exenatide

CAS Registry Number

141758-74-9

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Milk, Human

Hypoglycemic Agents

Incretins

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists

GLP-1 Agonists

Anti-Obesity Agents

Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.

Copyright Notice

Attribution Statement: LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Bookshelf ID: NBK500978PMID: 30000037