Can you take fenoprofen while breastfeeding?
What LactMed says
The National Library of Medicine’s own summary, quoted in full. We do not write a verdict of our own on this question, and we do not compress theirs into a label.
Some reviewers consider fenoprofen to be acceptable during breastfeeding. Because there is little published experience with fenoprofen during breastfeeding, other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Quoted from Fenoprofen — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised June 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of fenoprofen. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much fenoprofen gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Data are limited to those reported in a review article by the drug’s manufacturer in which no study details are reported. After a dose of 600 mg every 6 hours for 4 days in postpartum mothers, breastmilk fenoprofen levels were reportedly 1.6% of those in maternal plasma and below those accurately detected by the assay (assay limit not stated). Additionally, fenoprofen has glucuronide metabolites that could be absorbed as fenoprofen by a newborn.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take fenoprofen while breastfeeding?
Some reviewers consider fenoprofen to be acceptable during breastfeeding. The full record is quoted on this page, and the decision is one to make with the person who prescribed it — LactMed itself states it is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What can I take instead of fenoprofen while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Acetaminophen, Celecoxib, Diclofenac, Flurbiprofen, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Naproxen, Piroxicam as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does fenoprofen pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for fenoprofen are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking fenoprofen?
LactMed does not frame its records that way — it reports measured drug levels in milk and what has been observed in breastfed infants, which is what this page quotes. "Pump and dump" advice for a specific drug and dose should come from your clinician or a pharmacist, not from a general rule.
More on fenoprofen
LactMed states that the information it presents is not a substitute for professional judgement, and that you should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Nothing on this page is medical advice.