Can I take enalapril while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about enalapril.
In short
Pregnancy: Let your doctor know if you're pregnant, or if you become pregnant while on enalapril.
Breastfeeding: Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Enalapril is not usually used in pregnancy, as it can affect your baby's development in the womb.
- A doctor will suggest another medicine that is safer to take while you're pregnant.
Breastfeeding
- Enalapril can often be used during breastfeeding, but it's best to check first, as small amounts of the medicine can get into breast milk.
- You may be advised to carry on taking it if the benefits to you are greater than any possible risks to your baby.
When to get help
- Talk to a healthcare professional or call NHS 111 (in the UK) if anything about your baby worries you.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Enalapril in pregnancy
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're pregnant, or if you become pregnant while on enalapril.
Enalapril is not usually used in pregnancy, as it can affect your baby's development in the womb.
A doctor will suggest another medicine that is safer to take while you're pregnant.
In our words, from the NHS page Enalapril (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
The US drug label says
Pregnancy Nursing Mothers Enalapril and enalaprilat have been detected in human breast milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from enalapril, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue enalapril maleate, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Prescribing label, section “Pregnancy”: Enalapril Maleate (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
More on enalapril in pregnancy: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet (external site).
Enalapril while breastfeeding
The NHS says
Let your doctor know if you're breastfeeding.
Enalapril can often be used during breastfeeding, but it's best to check first, as small amounts of the medicine can get into breast milk.
You may be advised to carry on taking it if the benefits to you are greater than any possible risks to your baby.
Talk to a healthcare professional or call NHS 111 (in the UK) if anything about your baby worries you.
In our words, from the NHS page Enalapril (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Because of the very low levels of enalapril in breastmilk, amounts ingested by the infant are small and have not been detected in infant serum or caused any adverse effects in a few breastfed infants. If a mother requires enalapril, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding.
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Enalapril” (LM102), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Enalapril while breastfeeding.
The US prescribing label says
Nursing Mothers Enalapril and enalaprilat have been detected in human breast milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from enalapril, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue enalapril maleate, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Prescribing label, section “Nursing Mothers”: Enalapril Maleate (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Innovace.
Sources
- NHS, Enalapril (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 16 June 2026. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US drug label: Enalapril Maleate (oral), REMEDYREPACK INC., human prescription drug, label effective 1 September 2026, set ID 3fbc6cce-7ad5-49d5-9705-5f66ef92d544. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Enalapril” (LM102), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy), UK Teratology Information Service: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet. Linked, not reproduced.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.