Also known as 4′-hydroxyacetanilide, 4-(Acetylamino)phenol, 4-Hydroxyacetanilide, 4-acetamidophenol, APAP, Acenol, Acetaminofen, Acetaminophene, Panadol, Paracetamol, Paracetamolum, Tylenol, p-Acetylaminophenol, p-acetamidophenol, p-acetaminophenol, p-hydroxyacetanilide, p-hydroxyphenolacetamide
A p-aminophenol derivative with analgesic and antipyretic activities. Although the exact mechanism through which acetaminophen exert its effects has yet to be fully determined, acetaminophen may inhibit the nitric oxide (NO) pathway mediated by a variety of neurotransmitter receptors including N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and substance P, resulting in elevation of the pain threshold. The antipyretic activity may result from inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and release in the central nervous system (CNS) and prostaglandin-mediated effects on the heat-regulating center in the anterior hypothalamus.
Originator: NCI Thesaurus | Source: The website of the National Cancer Institute (http://www.cancer.gov)
Can I take Acetaminophen while breastfeeding?
Acetaminophen is a good choice for analgesia, and fever reduction in nursing mothers. Amounts in milk are much less than doses usually given to infants. Adverse effects in breastfed infants appear to be rare.
Drug levels
Maternal Levels. A single oral dose of 650 mg of acetaminophen was given to 12 nursing mothers who were 2 to 22 months postpartum. Peak milk levels of 10 to 15 mg/L occurred between 1 and 2 hours after the dose in all patients. Acetaminophen was undetectable (<0.5 mg/L) in all mothers 12 hours after the dose. The authors calculated that an infant who ingested 90 mL of breastmilk every 3 hours would receive an average of 0.88 mg of acetaminophen or 0.14% (range 0.04 to 0.23%) of the mother's absolute dosage.[1] Using data from this study, an infant would receive a maximum of about 2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. Three women took a single 500 mg dose of acetaminophen. Peak milk levels averaging 4.2 mg/L occurred within 2 hours after the dose.[2] Using data from this study, an infant would receive a maximum of about 3.6% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. Four women who were 2 to 8 months postpartum were given a single 1 gram dose of acetaminophen. Peak milk levels occurred between 1 and 2.5 hours after the dose. The authors estimated that a breastfed infant would receive an average of 1.1% and a maximum of 1.8% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. This dose is about 0.5% of the lowest recommended infant dose of acetaminophen.[3] Infant Levels. No acetaminophen was detected in the urine of 12 breastfed infants aged 2 to 22 months after maternal ingestion of 650 mg of acetaminophen.[1]
Urine was collected for 1 to 3.5 hours after nursing in 6 infants aged 2 to 6 days whose mothers received 1 to 2 grams of acetaminophen 2 to 4 hours before nursing their infant. Infants excreted an average of 401 mcg of acetaminophen and its metabolites in urine during the collection interval. These neonates excreted a greater percentage of drug as acetaminophen and much less as the sulfate metabolite than adults.[3]
Effects in breastfed infants
Maternal Levels. A single oral dose of 650 mg of acetaminophen was given to 12 nursing mothers who were 2 to 22 months postpartum. Peak milk levels of 10 to 15 mg/L occurred between 1 and 2 hours after the dose in all patients. Acetaminophen was undetectable (<0.5 mg/L) in all mothers 12 hours after the dose. The authors calculated that an infant who ingested 90 mL of breastmilk every 3 hours would receive an average of 0.88 mg of acetaminophen or 0.14% (range 0.04 to 0.23%) of the mother's absolute dosage.[1] Using data from this study, an infant would receive a maximum of about 2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. Three women took a single 500 mg dose of acetaminophen. Peak milk levels averaging 4.2 mg/L occurred within 2 hours after the dose.[2] Using data from this study, an infant would receive a maximum of about 3.6% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. Four women who were 2 to 8 months postpartum were given a single 1 gram dose of acetaminophen. Peak milk levels occurred between 1 and 2.5 hours after the dose. The authors estimated that a breastfed infant would receive an average of 1.1% and a maximum of 1.8% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. This dose is about 0.5% of the lowest recommended infant dose of acetaminophen.[3] Infant Levels. No acetaminophen was detected in the urine of 12 breastfed infants aged 2 to 22 months after maternal ingestion of 650 mg of acetaminophen.[1]
Urine was collected for 1 to 3.5 hours after nursing in 6 infants aged 2 to 6 days whose mothers received 1 to 2 grams of acetaminophen 2 to 4 hours before nursing their infant. Infants excreted an average of 401 mcg of acetaminophen and its metabolites in urine during the collection interval. These neonates excreted a greater percentage of drug as acetaminophen and much less as the sulfate metabolite than adults.[3]
Possible effects on lactation
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternate drugs to consider
References
1. Berlin CM Jr, Yaffe SJ, Ragni M. Disposition of acetaminophen in milk, saliva and plasma of lactating women. Pediatr Pharmacol. 1980;1:135-41. PMID: 7202185
2. Bitzen PO, Gustafsson B, Jostell KG et al. Excretion of paracetamol in human breast milk. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1981;20:123-5. PMID: 7262173
3. Notarianni LJ, Oldham HG, Bennett PN. Passage of paracetamol into breast milk and its subsequent metabolism by the neonate. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1987;24:63-7. PMID: 3620287
4. Matheson I, Lunde PKM, Notarianni L. Infant rash caused by paracetamol in breast milk? Pediatrics. 1985;76:651-2. Letter. PMID: 2931668
5. Findlay JWA, DeAngelis RL et al. Analgesic drugs in breast milk and plasma. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1981;29:625-33. PMID: 6529531
6. Ito S, Blajchman A, Stephenson M et al. Prospective follow-up of adverse reactions in breast-fed infants exposed to maternal medication. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993;168:1393-9. PMID: 8498418
7. Nadal-Amat J , Verd S. Paracetamol and asthma and lactation. Acta Paediatr. 2011;100:e2-3. PMID: 21244486
8. Bakkeheim E, Carlsen KH, Lodrup Carlsen KC. Paracetamol exposure during breastfeeding and risk of allergic disease. Acta Paediatr. 2011;100:e3. PMID: 21535130
Last Revision Date
20160204
Disclaimer:Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.
Source: LactMed – National Library of Medicine (NLM)