Diclofenac and Breastfeeding

Animal studies on breastfeeding and diclofenac show that the medication passes through breast milk. However, it is not known whether this is also true for humans. Even if the drug passes through breast milk in humans, it is unlikely to cause serious problems (since it is cleared from the body quickly). Before using any product containing diclofenac, nursing women should first consult their healthcare providers.

Is Diclofenac Safe for Breastfeeding Women?

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used as an active ingredient in several different prescription medications. At this time, it is unknown if the medicine is safe for use in breastfeeding women.
 
The manufacturers of diclofenac generally suggest that nursing women should not take this medication. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, you should talk with your healthcare provider about taking diclofenac.
 

Does Diclofenac Pass Through Breast Milk?

Although no research has been done to see if diclofenac passes through breast milk in humans, it is known that it passes through breast milk in animals. At this time, there is simply not enough information available to say with certainty that the medication does (or does not) pass through breast milk.
 
Because diclofenac is cleared from the body quickly, it is not expected that diclofenac use in breastfeeding women would cause serious problems for the breastfed child in most cases. However, it is a good idea to watch for any changes or problems in your child. In particular, watch for blood in the stool, unusual fussiness, or other unexplained changes.
 
Of course, there may be variation from one diclofenac drug to the next, especially if they are taken in different ways. For instance, a woman using diclofenac gel, skin patch, or eye drops is probably less likely to have significant amounts of diclofenac in her breast milk (if it actually passes through breast milk), compared to a woman taking an oral form of the drug.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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