Can celebrex be taken while breastfeeding?

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by P. M. Montgomery

Created on: May 09, 2011 Last Updated: May 11, 2011

Can Celebrex be taken while breastfeeding?

Celebrex is a drug with a history of both good and bad. Its use was slowed after studies showed that it can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. However, so many people who suffer with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and menstrual pain have found it to be a drug that offers them much needed relief. Doctors continue to prescribe Celebrex to people who suffer from these conditions as well as others who may benefit from it, such as those who have colon polyps.

Celebrex works by blocking the enzyme in the body that makes prostaglandins. Decreasing prostaglandins helps reduce pain and swelling. Celebrex is an NSAID and is only available by prescription. There is no generic form available and it comes in 50, 100, 200, and 400mg doses. As with most NSAIDs, it can increase the risk of bleeding or perforation in the stomach and intestines. Avoiding alcohol and other over the counter pain medications can help reduce this risk.

People with a history of blood clots, strokes or heart attacks, bleeding disorders, kidney or liver diseases, asthma or nasal polyps may be able to take Celebrex but may need dose adjustments and close monitoring in order to take the drug safely.

Celebrex can be used during the first six months of pregnancy but is not used in late pregnancy due to the risk of heart defects in the newborn.

If a woman thinks she is pregnant or is trying to get pregnant, she should discuss the benefits and risks of using Celebrex during the pregnancy with her doctor.

Celebrex is found in breast milk; however limited studies have been done. The manufacturer of Celebrex does recommend that due to the potential for serious side effects in nursing infants, mom and doctor need to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Celebrex, taking into account how important it is for mom to remain on the drug.

In the testing that was done, after stopping Celebrex, all traces of the drug were gone from breast milk within 24-36 hours after the mother’s last dose.

In the mom’s who did continue to take Celebrex and continue to breast feed their babies for the study, it was found that the levels of Celebrex in breast milk were low, the amount ingested by baby were small and not expected to cause any adverse effects in the breastfed infants.

However, due to the limited studies that have been done, the manufacturers recommendation and the availability of other approved alternative drugs, in conclusion, Celebrex is one drug that is not good for breast feeding mom’s to take. The potential risks are just not worth the potential cost to the infant.

Nursing mom’s can take Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Piroxican, or Flubiprofen. With other NSAID choices available, it is always wise to talk with the doctor and make the best possible choice for mom and baby.

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Can celebrex be taken while breastfeeding?