Ibuprofen Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings

Brand names: Addaprin, Advil, Advil Children's, Advil Infant's Concentrated Drops, Advil Liqui-Gels, Caldolor, Children's Motrin, Genpril, Haltran, IBU, IBU-200, Ibu-Tab, Ibuprofen PMR, Menadol, Midol IB, Motrin, Motrin Childrens, Motrin IB, NeoProfen, Nuprin, Proprinal, Q-Profen, Rufen, Saleto-200, Saleto-400

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 20, 2023.

Ibuprofen Pregnancy Warnings

Contraindicated last trimester of pregnancy
NSAIDs should be avoided at 20 weeks gestation and later

AU TGA pregnancy category C
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned

Risk Summary: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use in pregnant women at 30 weeks gestation and later may cause premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus; NSAID use at 20 weeks gestation or later may cause fetal renal dysfunction leading to oligohydramnios and, in some cases, neonatal renal impairment.

Comments:
-NSAID use in pregnancy prior to 20 weeks gestation should be based on a benefit-risk assessment; some authorities recommend avoiding NSAIDs throughout pregnancy whenever possible.
-If NSAID use is necessary between 20- and 30-weeks' gestation, limit use to the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible; ultrasound monitoring of amniotic fluid should be considered if NSAID use extends beyond 48 hours; if oligohydramnios occurs, discontinue NSAID and treat appropriately.
-NSAID use is not recommended in women attempting to conceive as it may impair female fertility.

Published reports have not shown clear developmental effects in animal studies with dosing up to 0.4 (rabbits) and 0.5 (rats) times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) throughout gestation. In rats, dosed at 0.8 times the MRHD on gestation days 9 and 10, an increase in membranous ventricular septal defects was reported; maternal toxicity was also reported. Animal data has shown that prostaglandins play an important role in endometrial vascular permeability, blastocyst implantation, and decidualization; administration of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors such as this drug, has been shown to result in increased pre-and post-implantation loss. Data from epidemiological studies suggest an increased risk of miscarriage and of cardiac malformation and gastroschisis after use of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor in early pregnancy. The absolute risk for cardiovascular malformation was increased from less than 1%, up to approximately 1.5 %. The risk is believed to increase with dose and duration of therapy. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

US FDA Drug Safety Communication (10-2020): The FDA is requiring a new warning be added to NSAID labeling describing the risk of fetal kidney problems that may result in low amniotic fluid. The FDA is recommending pregnant women avoid NSAID use at 20 weeks gestation or later. Through 2017, the FDA has received 35 reports of low amniotic fluid levels or kidney problems in mothers who took NSAIDs while pregnant. Five newborns died; 2 had kidney failure and confirmed low amniotic fluid, 3 had kidney failure without confirmed low amniotic fluid. The low amniotic fluid started as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy. There were 11 reports of low amniotic fluid levels during pregnancy and the fluid volume returned to normal after the NSAID was stopped. The medical literature has reported low amniotic fluid levels with use of NSAIDs for varying amounts of time, ranging from 48 hours to multiple weeks. Complications of prolonged oligohydramnios may include limb contractures and delayed lung maturation. In some postmarketing cases of impaired neonatal renal function, invasive procedures such as exchange transfusion or dialysis were required. In other cases, the condition was reversible within 3 to 6 days of stopping the NSAID and in these cases reappeared when the same NSAID was restarted.

Administration during labor and delivery is not recommended; onset of labor may be delayed, and duration increased with greater bleeding tendency in mother and child.

NSAIDs may impair female fertility; withdrawal of NSAID therapy should be considered in women with difficulties conceiving or who are undergoing investigation of infertility.

AU TGA pregnancy category C: Drugs which, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing, harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

See references

Ibuprofen Breastfeeding Warnings

This drug is a preferred choice as an analgesic/anti-inflammatory agent in nursing mothers because of the very low levels in breastmilk and demonstrated safety with therapeutic administration to infants at doses much higher than those excreted in breast milk. Limited published reports indicate that following oral administration, this drug is present in human milk at relative infant doses of 0.06% to 0.6% of the maternal weight-adjusted daily dose. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for this drug and any potential adverse effects to the breastfed infant from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition.

Benefit should outweigh risk

Excreted into human milk: Yes (small amounts)

Comments: Adverse effects on the breastfed infant and effects on milk production have not been reported.

See references

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer