Question

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

Diclofenac lactation summary

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

High plasma protein binding makes excretion into breast milk to be very low. Because the latter and a rapid elimination rate it is considered to be compatible with breastfeeding.

Answer by DrLact: About Diclofenac usage in lactation

Data on excretion of diclofenac into milk are poor, but the drug has a short half-life and little glucuronide metabolite formation. Most reviewers consider diclofenac to be acceptable during breastfeeding.[1][2][3][4] Other agents having more published information may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Maternal use of diclofenac 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.

Diclofenac Side Effects in Breastfeeding

In one study, 30 mothers undergoing elective cesarean section were allowed to use 25 mg diclofenac suppositories along with either spinal or spinal and epidural anesthesia with a local anesthetic after delivery. The spinal anesthetic group used an average of 56 mg of diclofenac on the day of delivery and 33 mg on the next day whereas the women receiving both spinal and epidural anesthesia used 21 and 18 mg. No mention was made of adverse effects on the breastfed infants.[8] An breastfed infant developed urticaria on day 15 of life. Her mother had been taking diclofenac (dosage unspecified) for pain since her cesarean section delivery. Diclofenac is a possible cause of the urticaria; however, the infant had also received hepatitis B vaccination 7 days before and the authors thought that it was a more likely cause of the reaction.[9]
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.