Can you take tolmetin 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.
Because of the low levels of tolmetin in breastmilk and its short half-life, it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant. However, because there is no published experience with breastfeeding during tolmetin use, other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Quoted from Tolmetin — 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 tolmetin. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much tolmetin gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Following a single 400 mg dose of tolmetin in a woman who was 2 months postpartum, peak milk levels occurred at 40 and 60 minutes after the dose in the right and left breasts, respectively, and averaged 160 mcg/L. The drug was undetectable (<30 mcg/L) in milk by 5 hours after the dose and its half-life in breastmilk was 1.54 hours.
Using the peak milk level data, the estimated maximum intake of an exclusively breastfed infant would be 0.4% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.
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 tolmetin while breastfeeding?
Because of the low levels of tolmetin in breastmilk and its short half-life, it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant. 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 tolmetin 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 tolmetin pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for tolmetin are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking tolmetin?
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 tolmetin
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.