Is Flurbiprofen 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 Flurbiprofen. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Because of the low levels of flurbiprofen in breastmilk and its short half-life it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant, especially if the infant is older than 2 months.
Maternal use of flurbiprofen eye drops would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. To substantially diminish the amount of drug that reaches the breastmilk after using eye drops, place pressure over the tear duct by the corner of the eye for 1 minute or more, then remove the excess solution with an absorbent tissue.
Effects on the breastfed infant
A retrospective medical record review in Taiwan compared the full-term breastfed infants of women who received acetaminophen (n = 348) to those who received flurbiprofen (n = 132) for postpartum analgesia after a vaginal birth. There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of infants with hyperbilirubinemia between those whose mothers received flurbiprofen (0.76%) and those whose mothers received acetaminophen(2.01%).[3]
A study of full-term, vaginally delivered breastfed neonates compared those whose mothers received acetaminophen (n = 348) to those whose mothers received flurbiprofen (n = 132) for postpartum pain. Seven (2%) newborns of acetaminophen users had hyperbilirubinemia and 1 (0.76%) newborn of the flurbiprofen users had hyperbilirubinemia. The differences was not statistically significant.[3]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Ten women who were at least 1 month postpartum were given a single 100 mg tablet of flurbiprofen. Flurbiprofen was undetectable (<70 mcg/L) in the milk of 5 of the women. In the remaining 5 women, an average peak milk level of 92 mcg/L occurred at about 3 hours after the dose. Flurbiprofen was undetectable in any mother's milk by 24 hours after the dose.[1] Using data from this study, a fully breastfed infant would ingest an estimated maximum daily dosage of 2.2 mcg/kg after this maternal dosage or about 0.1% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.
Twelve women who were 3 to 5 days postpartum received flurbiprofen 50 mg orally four times a day for 9 doses over 3 days. Milk samples were collected at various unspecified times during this regimen. Flurbiprofen was undetectable (<50 mcg/L) in all but 3 milk samples. One woman had levels of 70 mcg/L one hour after her first dose and 60 mcg/L just before her second dose. Another mother had a milk flurbiprofen concentration of 80 mcg/L two hours after her last dose. The authors estimated that the maximum dose that a completely breastfed infant would ingest is less than 0.5% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.[2]
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Flurbiprofen” (LM118). 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.