Question

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

Indomethacin lactation summary

Indomethacin is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Indomethacin is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Indomethacin is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Indomethacin does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Indomethacin safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher 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 Indomethacin usage in lactation

It is excreted into breast milk in non-significant clinically amounts.There has not been side-effects described in children from treated mothers, except for a case reported in 1978 with convulsions in a newborn infant whose mother received a higher dose than recommended. However, a causal relationship was questioned by other author in the same publication. Usually, breast milk and infant plasma levels have been found to be undetectable. It has been successfully used with no side-effects on treated mothers who had high levels of Prostaglandin E (PGE) whose infants were suffering of “physiologic diarrhea) This drug is used in neonates.The American Academy of Pediatrics rates it as usually compatible with breastfeeding.

Answer by DrLact: About Indomethacin usage in lactation

Because of the low levels of indomethcin in breastmilk and therapeutic administration directly to infants, it is acceptable to use in nursing mothers. However, other agents with more published information on use during lactation may be preferable, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Indomethacin Side Effects in Breastfeeding

In one case report, a breastfeeding mother had been taking daily doses of indomethacin that increased to 200 mg (3 mg/kg) from the fourth to the sixth day postpartum. On the same day that indomethacin was stopped, the infant had a generalized seizure, followed by another on the next day. No metabolic findings could account for the convulsions and no indomethacin levels were measured in the mother or infant.[3] This case was rated as indomethacin possibly causing the seizure; however later studies and the established therapeutic use of indomethacin in newborns make this causality seem unlikely.In one study, 7 women breastfed their neonates while taking indomethacin. No adverse effects were noted in any of the infants.[1]
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. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.