Is ibuprofen allowed during the breastfeeding period?
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. It is pharmacy-only, which means that it is only available in pharmacies. Depending on the dosage, it can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription.
For various medical reasons, pregnancy is divided into three phases, also called trimesters. In the first and second trimesters, ibuprofen, regardless of the dose, may only be taken after a doctor has been consulted. In the third trimester, ibuprofen is contraindicated as it can cause malformations in the child. There is no reason not to take ibuprofen during the breastfeeding period as long as the maximum daily dose is observed and it is not taken permanently.
Effect of Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is one of the best known NSAIDs besides Aspirin©. This abbreviation stands for “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs”. It inhibits an enzyme called cyclooxygenase.
This enzyme is involved in the mediation of pain stimuli and inflammatory processes. So if you inhibit this enzyme, you also inhibit pain and inflammation. Chemically speaking, ibuprofen belongs to the arylpropionic acids, a subgroup of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
It is a very popular painkiller because it works quickly and effectively and can be used for many different types of pain. It is particularly effective for inflammatory pain, headaches, toothache, menstrual pain and pain of the locomotor system, i.e. muscles and bones. It also inhibits local, limited and systemic complaints related to the entire body caused by inflammation. Usually the effect of ibuprofen lasts for about 6 hours.
Side effects of Ibuprofen
As effective and fast as ibuprofen works, it unfortunately also has some side effects. It can lead to stomach ulcers and bleeding, cause kidney damage and trigger breathing difficulties in asthmatics. Ibuprofen is a very strong medication.
Even an adult body sometimes finds it difficult to handle this drug. It needs some enzymes to break it down again and healthy kidneys to finally excrete it from the body. So it is easy to imagine that a baby’s body is not up to these tasks.
Fortunately, during the first two thirds of a pregnancy, the placenta protects the babies from such potential toxins. In the last third, however, the thickness of the placenta decreases and the probability increases that the drug can enter the baby’s circulation. Therefore, to avoid damage to the child’s kidneys and liver, ibuprofen should not be taken from the beginning of the third trimester. During the breastfeeding period, on the other hand, taking it below the maximum dose does not pose a problem, as at a daily dose of up to 1600mg it is not transmitted via breast milk.
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