Breastfeeding is a period that involves some restrictions regarding taking medications. As during pregnancy, in this situation you need to take a very responsible approach to the choice of any medications, both synthetic and traditional. During lactation, all the energies of the new mother are aimed at caring for the baby. Unfortunately, even during this happy period, a woman can get sick.
Quite often during lactation, colds, toothache, headaches, and muscle pain occur, and chronic pathologies may worsen. Accordingly, drug treatment is required.
Release form and indications for use
The drug Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal drug for external and internal use. Its action is based on the inhibition of cyclooxygenases (certain enzyme groups) by propionic acid. As a result, the body produces substances that help reduce temperature, eliminate headaches, swelling, and stop inflammatory processes. Additionally, it has an immunomodulatory effect.
You can use Ibuprofen for hepatitis B in the following cases:
- to relieve headaches and toothaches;
- with otitis media and sinusitis;
- at elevated body temperature;
- for joint pain;
- during menstruation;
- for aches in the back and calf muscles;
- for injuries of various origins.
Medical studies have shown that Ibuprofen during lactation does not harm the child, because a small part of the medicine enters the baby’s body, up to 0.8% of the dose. The drug does not affect the taste and volume of milk produced. It is worth noting that for children the drug is used from 3 months of the child’s life; in some cases, according to the doctor’s indications, it can be taken from birth.
Ibuprofen is available in the following forms: tablets, suspensions, suppositories, gels, ointments. It is not recommended for mothers to use syrups during breastfeeding, because they contain special flavoring additives (orange, strawberry), which can cause allergic reactions in the baby. The dosage depends on the age category. Tablets contain from 200 to 400 mg of the active ingredient, syrup - 2 g, ointments and gels - 5%, and suppositories - 60 mg. For children and adults, it is important to choose the appropriate form of medication to ensure that the right amount of the active substance enters the body.
It has been proven that when taken by a nursing mother during lactation, Ibuprofen does not have a negative effect on the body and development of the infant.
Composition and mechanism of action
The active substance of the drug in question is ibuprofen. The dosage varies depending on the age category of the patient and the existing form of release of the medication:
- tablets – 200 mg, 400 mg (effervescent, film-coated);
- syrup – 2.0 g;
- ointment – 5%;
- gel – 5%;
- suppositories – 60 mg.
In addition to the main component, Ibuprofen includes excipients listed in the instructions for use for a particular drug. Depending on the form of release, minor “additives” may include dimethyl sulfoxide, povidone K-25, macrogol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and others.
Ibuprofen has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties.
The mechanism of action of this drug is to block the synthesis of pain mediators - prostaglandins. The substance has a high level of absorption and is excreted from the body by the kidneys.
Use during lactation and effect on the child
When breastfeeding, the mother may experience colds, headaches, toothaches, muscle spasms, and chronic diseases may worsen. You cannot tolerate pain, much less high temperatures. As a result, not only the woman’s well-being may deteriorate, but milk may also disappear. What to do? To eliminate painful symptoms, doctors prescribe a drug from the group of painkillers - Ibuprofen. In the correct dosage, it has an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect.
It is important to avoid self-prescribing medication; you need to choose not only the correct dose of the drug, but also the form of the drug, in order to avoid the negative impact of additional components in the drug on the child’s body.
It is important for a nursing mother to monitor her condition. If the desired result is not achieved, stop taking the medication and consult your doctor again for advice.
If you want to protect your baby from the effects of Ibuprofen, it is recommended to time the medication. The maximum concentration of the product enters the milk 30-120 minutes after its use. It is better to take the tablets immediately after feeding the baby.
Rules for using ibuprofen for breastfeeding
Before first use, you must study the instructions for the medicine. Every mother should know how to use Ibuprofen while breastfeeding.
The maximum daily dosage during lactation does not exceed 800 mg (40 ml) of Ibuprofen tablets or suspension. It is required to maintain an interval between repeated doses of the medicine - at least 4 hours. The required dosage for one dose was set at 200 mg (10 ml).
The tablets are swallowed whole, washed down with water. There is a convenient measuring syringe for syrup. According to the rules for taking Ibuprofen, to reduce the effect on the stomach, medications are taken after meals and after breastfeeding. The concentration of the substance appears in the mother’s blood 30 minutes to an hour after consumption. During this time, you do not need to breastfeed your baby; it is recommended to express milk in advance.
Mom should be guided by the doctor’s recommendation or the instructions for the medicine. The instructions for the drug contain precise information about dosage and administration, so following the basic rules will not harm the baby’s health, but will alleviate the mother’s condition.
Terms of use
The daily dosage of the drug is up to 800 mg of the active substance, with breaks between doses of up to 4 hours. A single dosage is 200 mg, if necessary, a specialist can increase it by 2 times, but only for serious indications.
To prevent the medicine from having a harmful effect on the digestive tract, it is recommended to drink the medicine immediately after meals with plenty of water. At the first dose, do not exceed the dosage of 200 g, and only if there is no effect of the drug, increase the dosage.
For nursing mothers, you can use suppositories; they eliminate the irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It is important to choose a form of Ibuprofen without additional additives and dyes in order to avoid allergies in the child.
If there is a need for long-term use of Ibuprofen, more than 7 days, then for this period it is necessary to suspend the guardianship and temporarily transfer the child to formula. Mothers are recommended to pump to maintain lactation.
When using Ibuprofen in the form of ointments, you need to squeeze out a thin strip of the product and rub it into the damaged area with gentle movements. Repeat the procedure after 4-6 hours.
Individual intolerance to the components of the drug and excess dosage are the main causes of side effects of taking Ibuprofen.
Rules for use during breastfeeding
If there is a need to use Ibuprofen during lactation, it is very important to follow the basic rules for taking it. The most important thing is not to exceed the recommended dosage. Nursing mothers can take it in an amount of no more than 800 mg per day. It is best to take 1 tablet of 200 mg, only in case of severe pain you can double the dose. Take the tablets 2-3 times a day, but ensure that at least 4 hours pass between two doses.
In case of breastfeeding, you should also not increase the duration of taking Ibuprofen. To relieve pain, you can drink it for 2-3 days, at elevated temperatures - no more than 5 days. If during this time the woman does not feel relief, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Attention: only after consultation with a specialist is it possible to take a course of the drug or increase the dosage. But the doctor usually recommends stopping breastfeeding for this time.
Although ibuprofen passes into breast milk in minimal quantities, you can further reduce the risk of it passing into your baby's body. To do this, you need to drink the medicine immediately after feeding. This will help to avoid its high concentration for the next feeding. The drug is absorbed into the blood in about half an hour. The maximum concentration of the active substance in a woman’s body is observed over the next two hours. You just don't need to feed your baby at this time. Then all the active ingredients of the drug disintegrate, and they will no longer get into the milk.
But it’s still worth monitoring the baby’s condition. If he develops a rash, colic, restlessness, or other signs of intolerance to Ibuprofen, it is best not to take it anymore and consult a doctor about choosing a different drug for treatment.
Side effects and contraindications
It is important not to exceed the prescribed dosage, because the drug can lead to the accumulation of Ibuprofen in the body, increasing the concentration of undesirable elements in mother's milk. In case of an overdose of the drug, the mother may experience problems with the digestive system - flatulence, nausea, vomiting, upset stool, pain in the stomach.
Ibuprofen should not be used if:
- bronchial asthma or the presence of individual intolerance to the constituent components of the drug;
- renal or liver failure;
- blood clotting disorders;
- unstable psycho-emotional state;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system.
When used externally, avoid places with wounds, abrasions, and dermatological diseases.
From the nervous system, disturbances such as headache, overexcitation, poor sleep, blurred vision, tremors in the limbs, and in case of significant overdose, even fainting, may follow. Possible increased blood pressure and tachycardia.
Side effects occur with prolonged and uncontrolled use of the drug. With a single use of the product, the risks are reduced to zero.
Ibuprofen is not recommended for use with drugs to reduce blood clotting, as well as with drugs that have a toxic effect on the kidneys and liver (antibiotics, diuretics, alcohol compounds).
Contraindications
You should refrain from taking Ibuprofen in the following cases:
- individual intolerance;
- gastritis;
- stomach and duodenal ulcers;
- 3rd trimester of pregnancy;
- liver failure;
- confirmed hyperkalemia;
- period after coronary artery bypass surgery;
- hemophilia and other bleeding disorders;
- inflammatory bowel changes;
- intracranial hemorrhages;
- active liver disease;
- violation of the integrity of the skin (for external use).
In other cases, before taking and using the drug, you must first consult with a specialist.
Analogs
A nursing mother's medicine cabinet should contain Ibuprofen or its derivatives - Nurofen, Gofen, Nurosan, Ibufen, Ibuprom, Imet. The attending doctor will tell you which drug to choose. You also need to know that in some cases, Ibuprofen can be replaced with Paracetamol - for cold symptoms, to bring down a high temperature. Antispasmodics are used for headaches and menstrual pain.
The drug Ibuprofen is compatible with gw. With the correct dosage, it does not affect the baby’s condition and is easily tolerated by the digestive system. However, it is recommended to use the drug for no longer than 3 days and only strictly according to the doctor’s indications.
Instructions for ibuprofen regarding its compatibility with breastfeeding
Many manufacturers have not studied their drugs for effects on lactation and the baby who receives breast milk from a woman taking this drug. The lack of such a study is the most common reason why the instructions indicate that you should stop breastfeeding while taking the medicine.
Ibuprofen is a rare exception in this regard. The lactation compatibility column states that it can be used by a nursing mother, since the active substance practically does not penetrate into milk.
Recommendations for admission
In order to get the maximum benefit from the medicine for yourself and at the same time not harm the baby, you need to follow certain recommendations.
Which release form is best?
Ibuprofen is available in tablet and ointment form. In what form to use the medicine depends on what exactly is bothering the woman.
If we are talking about pain in the muscles, back, neck, then it is recommended to be treated with ointment - it will both relieve pain and eliminate inflammation. Although Ibuprofen in tablet form will give the desired result.
If you need to cope with high fever, headache, aches throughout the body or inflammation in the internal organs, then tablets will be effective. It is also recommended, if possible, to replace tablets with ointment if there are problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
Dosage and course duration
Recommendation. To extend the course of treatment with Ibuprofen and adjust the dosage, you should always consult your doctor.
Medicines for vascular diseases
A headache during breastfeeding can easily throw a woman off track and complicate her life. To remove the syndrome that appears, you can take pills. But not every product is safe for a newborn and breastfeeding.
Paracetamol
The medication Paracetamol is often recommended by specialists for painful headaches during the lactation period, since this drug is safe for newborns, has a small number of side effects and has long been used to relieve pain.
It is recommended to take Paracetamol analogues containing this substance.
- Panadol.
- Calpol.
- Efferalgan.
- Rapidol.
- Tylenol.
Panadol has a minimum of contraindications and side effects. The tablets are compatible with breastfeeding; the drug is also prescribed to infants.
The maximum concentration in blood plasma and milk is observed for 2 hours and then decreases.
It is advised to take pills for headaches while breastfeeding, when the attack is one-time. It is possible to use it regularly for 2-3 days, 1-2 pills every 6 hours.
Ibuprofen
If rare headaches occur, doctors recommend numbing them with Ibuprofen or Ibufen. A small amount of medication passes into milk, so the tablets do not pose a serious threat. The medicine can be used by 4-month-old babies.
You can also relieve a terrible headache with analogues:
- Nurofen;
- Mig-400;
- Has;
- Ibuprom;
- Ibumax.
The drug taken for the head during the lactation period begins to have its effect within half an hour after use. After 3 hours, the drug will be eliminated from the body, which allows you to safely feed the newborn and not worry about adverse consequences.
Naproxen
A non-steroidal drug that has an anti-inflammatory effect. The medication is officially recognized as compatible with breastfeeding. Its one-time use is recommended by experts in case of a sudden pain attack.
The advantage of Naproxen is its long-lasting effect on the body, about 12 hours. To reduce negative reactions, it is better to use the drug after feeding.
Nosh-pa
When prescribing medicinal painkillers, doctors take into account pharmacokinetics, absorption and excretion characteristics, and side properties of the drug. There is a list of medications for pain attacks that are allowed for women during breastfeeding.
Paracetamol
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), active ingredient paracetamol. Analog medications: Panadol, Cefekon D, Efferalgan.
They produce tablet forms of 0.2 and 0.5 grams and tablets that are dissolved in water (0.5 and 1 gram).
Paracetamol relieves pain, relieves fever and inflammation.
The medication is taken for headaches, toothaches, muscle pain, and algodismenorrhea. Paracetamol is effective against moderate pain and is recommended for reducing body temperature in infectious and inflammatory diseases.
If consumed longer than this period, epigastric pain, nausea, and an allergic reaction may occur.
Contraindications for use include acute and chronic renal failure, blood diseases, and liver diseases. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are a relative contraindication; Paracetamol can be used according to indications and with the permission of a doctor.
Ibuprofen
A group of NSAIDs, analogues are Burana, Dolgit, Nurofen, Solpaflex.
The active substance is ibuprofen, the medicine is produced in the form of tablets of 0.2 grams, which are dissolved in water. For oral administration, film-coated tablet forms (0.2 and 0.4 grams) and capsules (0.2 and 0.3) are also produced. In liquid form, Ibuprofen is produced in the form of a suspension, taken orally, 0.1 grams per 5 milliliters.
Ibuprofen relieves inflammation, pain, and normalizes body temperature. The active substance is absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract, the highest amount in the blood serum is achieved after 3 hours, it is slightly lower than the concentration in the synovial fluid.
Ibuprofen is recommended for moderate pain, migraine pain, menstruation, and for injuries and bruises. The drug effectively relieves pain in the head caused by fever due to viral infections.
Take from 0.2 to 0.8 grams at a time, depending on the intensity of the pain syndrome. No more than 2 grams per day is recommended, duration of treatment is 3 days. If the condition worsens again, you need to visit a doctor and determine the cause of the headache.
Side effects when taking Ibuprofen tablets while breastfeeding:
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Dizziness;
- Sleep disorders;
- Allergic reactions.
Dosage
For fever and headache, the drug is prescribed in tablet form. To neutralize possible negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to take it immediately after meals.
When breastfeeding, the maximum daily dose of the drug is 800 mg. It should be noted that at least four hours must pass between each dose. The standard single dose during lactation is 200 mg; if agreed with the doctor, it can be increased to 400 mg.
To minimize the effect of the drug on the baby, it is enough to choose the right time to take it. According to research, the maximum concentration of ibuprofen in the blood occurs between thirty minutes and two hours. Therefore, it is best to take ibuprofen immediately after feeding your baby.
It should be noted that each age group has its own release forms. So, a nursing mother should not be treated for a headache by taking syrup for babies. And in the same way, you should not try to give a child part of a tablet for an adult. Otherwise, an extremely unpleasant result is possible: the child will have an overdose, and the mother will not have the required effect due to an insufficient dose.
