Can you take phenprocoumon 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.
Phenprocoumon is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Limited information indicates that anticoagulant maternal doses of phenprocoumon produce low levels in milk. Until more data are available, shorter-acting anticoagulants are preferred, especially if the infant is younger than 2 months.
Quoted from Phenprocoumon — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised December 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of phenprocoumon. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Acenocoumarol
- Dalteparin
- Enoxaparin
- Heparin
- Rivaroxaban
- Warfarin
How much phenprocoumon gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. One mother required anticoagulation postpartum was given phenprocoumon as an anticoagulant. Milk samples were obtained on days 27, 28 and 31 postpartum when her prothrombin time and phenprocoumon serum concentrations were stable. Milk phenprocoumon concentrations varied between 26 and 76 mcg/L and concentrations were higher in hindmilk than foremilk. A complete 24-hour milk collection contained a concentration of 33 mcg/L of phenprocoumon.
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 phenprocoumon while breastfeeding?
Phenprocoumon is not approved by the U.S. 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 phenprocoumon while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Acenocoumarol, Dalteparin, Enoxaparin, Heparin, Rivaroxaban, Warfarin 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 phenprocoumon pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for phenprocoumon are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking phenprocoumon?
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 phenprocoumon
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.