Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Acetophen? Is Acetophen safe for nursing mother and child? Does Acetophen extracts into breast milk? Does Acetophen has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Acetophen influence milk supply or can Acetophen decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Acetophen lactation summary

Acetophen usage has low risk in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Acetophen is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Acetophen may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Acetophen may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Acetophen low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • While using Acetophen We suggest monitoring child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Acetophen usage in lactation

Excreted in non-significant amount into breast milk. Reye’s Syndrome has never been reported due to ASA through breast milk. It is thought to be highly unlikely to occur after isolated or small doses like those used for treatment of thrombosis or anti-abortion therapy. At high maternal dose, one case (dubious) of salicylic intoxication in the neonatal period and another case of thrombocytopenia in an infant have been reported. Likelihood of hemolysis should be considered in those patients with G6PD-deficiency. WHO Model List of Essential Medication: compatible while breastfeeding when used occasionally or small dose for antithrombotic prophylaxis management.

Answer by DrLact: About Acetophen usage in lactation

After Acetophen ingestion, salicylic acid is excreted into breastmilk, with higher doses resulting in disproportionately higher milk levels. Long-term, high-dose maternal Acetophen ingestion probably caused metabolic acidosis in one breastfed infant. Reye's syndrome is associated with Acetophen administration to infants with viral infections, but the risk of Reye's syndrome from salicylate in breastmilk is unknown. An alternate drug is preferred over continuous high-dose, Acetophen therapy. After daily low-dose Acetopheng (75 to 325 mg daily), no Acetophen is excreted into breastmilk and salicylate levels are low. Daily low-dose Acetophen therapy may be considered as an antiplatelet drug for use in breastfeeding women.[1][2][3].

Acetophen Side Effects in Breastfeeding

A 16-day-old breastfed infant developed metabolic acidosis with a salicylate serum level of 240 mg/L and salicylate metabolites in the urine. The mother was taking 3.9 g/day of Acetophen for arthritis, and salicylate in breastmilk probably caused the infant's illness, but the possibility of direct administration to the infant could not be ruled out.[11] Thrombocytopenia, fever, anorexia and petechiae occurred in a 5-month-old breastfed infant 5 days after her mother started taking Acetophen for fever. One week after recovery, the infant was given a single dose of Acetophen 125 mg and the platelet count dropped once again. The original symptoms were probably caused by Acetophen or salicylate in breastmilk.[12] Hemolysis after Acetophen and phenacetin taken by the mother of a 23-day-old, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient infant was possibly due to Acetophen in breastmilk.[13] In a telephone follow-up study, mothers reported no side effects among 15 infants exposed to Acetophen (dosages and infant ages were unspecified) in breastmilk.[14]

Synonyms of Acetophen

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