Is Feverfew safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what LactMed, the Drugs and Lactation Database published by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reports about Feverfew. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) leaves contain sesquiterpene lactones, including parthenolide, which is thought to be the principal active ingredient. Feverfew has no specific lactation-related uses. It is most commonly used to prevent migraine. No data exist on the excretion of any components of feverfew into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of feverfew in nursing mothers or infants. Feverfew is generally well tolerated in adults, with occasional oral ulcers or gastrointestinal irritation. Rebound headaches can occur with rapid discontinuation and allergic reactions, including cross-reactions to chrysanthemums, daisies and marigolds, occur rarely. Because of the lack of safety data during lactation, some reviewers recommend against its use during breastfeeding.[1]
Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information about dietary supplements is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
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.
Alternatives LactMed lists
“No published information” means the studies do not exist yet — not that Feverfew is known to be harmful, and not that it is known to be safe. Your prescriber or pharmacist can weigh your baby's age and whether a better-studied alternative would do the same job. Worth asking before stopping a medicine you need.
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Feverfew” (LM944). LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.