Drugs in lactation Source: LactMed

Antipyrine and Breastfeeding

Summary of use during lactation

Antipyrine is considered unlikely to harm the infant.[1] Because antipyrine is available in the US only in ear drops, it is unlikely to be absorbed by the mother and reach the breastmilk. No special precautions are required during maternal use of antipyrine-containing ear drops.

Drug levels in milk and infant serum

Maternal Levels. Antipyrine was given to 7 lactating women who were 2 to 19 months postpartum. Each woman drank a single oral dose of 18 mg/kg of antipyrine in solution. Peak milk levels usually occurred 10 minutes after ingestion and ranged from about 10 to 30 mg/L. The antipyrine half-life in milk averaged 11.6 hours (range 5.7 to 21.7 hours). The authors estimated that a fully breastfed infant would ingest 6.4 mg of antipyrine after this maternal dose or 0.59% of the maternal dose (not weight-adjusted). Two of the women who were studied before and after pregnancy indicated that antipyrine clearance might be increased by about two-fold during lactation.[1] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in breastfed infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on lactation and breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Alternative drugs to consider

Acetaminophen, Celecoxib, Diclofenac, Flurbiprofen, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Naproxen, Piroxicam

Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NCBI Bookshelf. Check LactMed for the most recent revision.

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