Ibuprofen 600 mg is Safe for Breastfeeding
Ibuprofen 600 mg can be taken safely during breastfeeding without interrupting nursing or discarding breast milk, as it poses no risk to the infant. 1
Evidence-Based Safety Profile
Ibuprofen is explicitly listed as compatible with breastfeeding by the Association of Anaesthetists, with no requirement to interrupt nursing. 1 The drug has the most reassuring safety data among all NSAIDs during lactation according to EULAR guidelines. 1
Key Safety Features
Minimal breast milk transfer: Ibuprofen is excreted in very low levels in human milk, with infant exposure remaining well below therapeutic concentrations. 1
Relative infant dose < 10%: This meets the safety threshold established by guidelines, where drugs with relative infant dose below 10% are considered preferred options for breastfeeding women. 2
Short half-life: Ibuprofen's brief plasma elimination time reduces accumulation risk in both mother and infant, a favorable pharmacokinetic property for lactation safety. 2, 3
High protein binding: The drug's extensive plasma protein binding limits the free fraction available to transfer into breast milk. 2
Clinical Recommendations
Take the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration needed. 1 The 600 mg dose falls within the safe prescription range (typically 1,800-2,400 mg daily for therapeutic use). 3
Practical Guidance
No waiting period required: Breastfeeding can occur immediately after taking ibuprofen without any delay. 1
Do not express and discard milk: This practice is completely unnecessary with ibuprofen. 1
Consider multimodal analgesia: Combining ibuprofen with paracetamol (acetaminophen) can enhance pain relief while minimizing the need for stronger medications like opioids. 1, 4
Preferred over opioids: Ibuprofen carries significantly lower risks than opioid analgesics, which pose dangers of infant sedation, respiratory depression, and death. 1
Special Considerations
Exercise extra caution if your infant is less than 6 weeks old (corrected for gestational age) due to immature liver and kidney function, though ibuprofen remains a safe option even in this population. 1, 4
Monitoring (Generally Not Required)
Unlike some medications, ibuprofen does not require special monitoring of the infant during breastfeeding. 1 However, if your infant shows unusual drowsiness, poor feeding, or decreased responsiveness, contact your healthcare provider. 4
Alternative Safe Options
If ibuprofen is contraindicated or ineffective:
Paracetamol (acetaminophen): Equally safe first-line option compatible with immediate breastfeeding. 1, 5
Other NSAIDs: Diclofenac (second safest after ibuprofen), naproxen, celecoxib, and ketorolac are also compatible with breastfeeding. 1, 4
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not unnecessarily discontinue breastfeeding due to unfounded fears about medication safety—the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the negligible risks associated with ibuprofen use. 1, 6
Avoid defaulting to opioids for routine pain relief, as they carry substantially higher risks compared to NSAIDs like ibuprofen. 1