Can I take a medication while breastfeeding?

Show all 1038 Ultracet, Aceta, Percoce and other drugs containing acetaminophen.

It is a good choice for analgesia.The amount of milk given to infants is usually higher.There are rare adverse effects in breastfed infants.

Maternal levels.There were 12 nursing mothers who received a single oral dose of acetaminophen.All patients had peak milk levels between 1 and 2 hours after the dose.The drug was not visible in all mothers 12 hours after the dose.According to the authors, an infant who ingests 90 mL of breastmilk every 3 hours would get an average of 0.14% of the mother's absolute dose.A maximum of 2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage would be given to an infant using data from this study.

The women took a single dose of the drug.Within 2 hours after the dose, peak milk levels averaged 4.2mg/L.A maximum of 3.6% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage would be given to an infant using data from this study.

Four women who were 2 to 8 months pregnant were given a single gram of acetaminophen.Between 1 and 2.5 hours after the dose, peak milk levels occurred.The authors estimated that a breastfed infant would receive an average of 1% and a maximum of 2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.The lowest recommended infant dose of acetaminophen is 0.5%.[4]

There are infant levels.There was no evidence of acetaminophen in the urine of 12 infants who had been breastfed.[2]

After nursing in 6 infants aged 2 to 6 days whose mothers received 1 to 2 grams of acetaminophen, urine was collected for up to 3.5 hours.During the collection interval, infants excrete an average of 400 mcg of acetaminophen and its metabolites.Neonates excrete a greater percentage of drug than adults.[4]

A maculopapular rash on the upper trunk and face of a 2-month-old infant was most likely caused by acetaminophen.The mother received a dose of 1 gram at night.After another dose of 1 gram was taken by the mother, it subsided.[5]

Fourteen women who took prodrug phenacetin had no adverse effects on their infants, according to two papers.[5]

The mothers of 43 infants who were exposed to acetaminophen in breastmilk reported no side effects.[6]

Two clinicians speculated that breastfeeding may increase the risk of asthma and wheezing in the infants.These observations are not valid proof of an association.[8]

Information presented in this database is not a substitute for professional judgement.You should talk to your healthcare provider about breastfeeding advice.The U.S. government is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this site.

To ensure the information on this page applies to your personal circumstances, always consult your healthcare provider.