Indomethacin Pregnancy and Breast Feeding Warnings

Indomethacin is also known as: Indocin, Indocin IV, Indocin SR

Overview

Indomethacin Sustained-Release Capsules may harm the fetus. Do not use it during the last 3 months of pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Indomethacin Sustained-Release Capsules while you are pregnant. Indomethacin Sustained-Release Capsules is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Indomethacin Sustained-Release Capsules.

Indomethacin Pregnancy Warnings

Indomethacin has not been formally assigned to a pregnancy category by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity or fetal harm except at doses which result in significant maternal toxicity. There are no controlled data in early human pregnancy. Indomethacin has been used in the management of premature labor. However, fetal hemodynamic changes, premature closure of the ductus arteriosus resulting in neonatal primary pulmonary hypertension, and neonatal oliguric renal failure, oligohydramnios, hemorrhage, and intestinal perforation have been reported as a result of this tocolytic therapy. Indomethacin is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

Indomethacin crosses the placenta. In one study, 26 pregnant patients were administered indomethacin 50 mg orally one time approximately six hours prior to scheduled cordocentesis, at a gestational age of 23.6 to 36.6 weeks. At the time of the procedure, maternal serum indomethacin concentrations ranged from 42 to 690 ng/mL (mean 218 ng/mL) while fetal concentrations ranged from 87 to 496 ng/mL (mean 219 ng/mL). The mean maternal to fetal serum concentration ratio was 0.97. There was no correlation between gestational age and maternal/fetal ratio. Amniotic fluid concentrations averaged 21 ng/mL. Indomethacin has been used successfully in the treatment of premature labor as well as polyhydramnios. In several studies, indomethacin was as effective and better tolerated than beta-agonists for premature labor. However, while earlier reports and studies suggested indomethacin was safe for the fetus or neonate, especially when use was confined to pregnancies of 34 weeks' gestation or less, more recent data suggest a substantial increase in the risk of serious fetal or neonatal side effects. Eronen (1993) studied the effects of indomethacin or nylidrin on the fetal and neonatal ductus arteriosus and tricuspid valve function. A total of 84 pregnancies (94 fetuses) with premature labor between 22.9 and 34.0 weeks' gestation were evaluated. Ductal constriction occurred in 46/49 (86%) of fetuses (gestational age 24.0 to 34.0 weeks) treated with indomethacin. The gestational age of the fetuses without ductal constriction ranged from 24.3 to 28.6 weeks. Eleven fetuses with ductal constriction also had tricuspid regurgitation. Data from this study suggest increasing reactivity of the ductus with increasing gestational age; although, ductal constriction occurred in one fetus at 22.9 weeks' gestation. In addition to hemodynamic changes, other serious sequelae of maternal indomethacin use have been documented. One study compared 57 infants delivered at or before 30 weeks' gestation whose mothers received indomethacin for the treatment of premature labor with 57 infants whose mothers had not received indomethacin. The total dose of indomethacin ranged from 50 to 6000 mg (median 425 mg) and the duration of therapy ranged from 1 to 79 days (median 3 days). Necrotizing enterocolitis occurred in 29% of infants exposed to indomethacin compared with an 8% incidence in the control group (p=0.005). Intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 28% of infants in the indomethacin group compared with only 9% in the control group (p=0.02). Maternal use of indomethacin has resulted in reduced fetal urine output and subsequent oligohydramnios, neonatal renal failure, fetal pleural effusion, and ileal perforation. In addition, at least two cases of neonatal lower limb ischemia have been reported following prolonged intrauterine exposure to indomethacin. Fetal echocardiograms after 24 hours of maternal indomethacin therapy and then weekly, thereafter, if long-term therapy is necessary, have been recommended. In addition, assessment of amniotic fluid volume is also recommended.

Indomethacin Lactation Warnings

Indomethacin is excreted into human milk in concentrations similar to those in maternal plasma. A case of seizures in a breast-fed infant has been reported. Despite this report, however, indomethacin is considered compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In vitro data suggest that indomethacin passes into human milk by simple diffusion. The excretion of indomethacin into human milk was evaluated in 16 women treated with doses ranging from 0.94 to 4.29 mg/kg/day. All but one patient was less than 10 days post partum. Milk concentrations ranged from less than 20 mcg/L to 115 mcg/L and did not correlate with maternal dose. The median milk to maternal plasma concentration ratio was 0.37. Plasma samples were obtained from seven nursing infants. In six infants, indomethacin plasma concentrations were below the level of detection (less than 20 mcg/L). In one infant, the plasma concentration was 47 mcg/L at approximately 1.2 hours after nursing. Seizures have been reported in a seven-day-old infant whose mother was treated with indomethacin in doses up to 200 mg per day during the puerperium. In the absence of a definitive cause, the authors speculated that the seizures were related to indomethacin exposure via breast milk. Causality in this case is unknown.

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