Question

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

Answer by DrLact: About Valdecoxib usage in lactation

Valdecoxib was removed from sale in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because of long-term cardiovascular toxicity. Limited information indicates that levels of valdecoxib in breastmilk are low. Because there is little published experience with valdecoxib safety during breastfeeding, other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Valdecoxib Side Effects in Breastfeeding

A single 40 mg dose of parecoxib, a prodrug of valdecoxib, was given intravenously to 40 mothers at an average of 41.9 hours after delivery. The neonatal adaptive score of the breastfed infants was normal at an average of 21.8 hours after the dose.[2]

Valdecoxib Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

A study compared valdecoxib 20 mg and placebo for their opiate-sparing activity in post-cesarean section pain. All patients received epidural fentanyl and bupivacaine as well as intraspinal morphine for postoperative pain. No difference was observed in breastfeeding success rate between mothers who received valdecoxib (n = 25) and placebo (n = 23).[2]
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