How long does percocet stay in your breast milk?

Understanding Percocet and Breastfeeding
Percocet, a combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen, is often prescribed for pain relief. However, its use during breastfeeding raises important questions about safety and the duration it remains in breast milk.
Duration in Breast Milk
When a breastfeeding mother takes Percocet, the active ingredient, oxycodone, can be transferred to her breast milk. Research indicates that oxycodone can be detected in breast milk for approximately 2 to 4 hours after ingestion. However, the concentration of the drug in breast milk peaks around 1 to 2 hours post-dose, which is crucial for understanding potential exposure to the infant.
Effects on Infants
The transfer of oxycodone into breast milk can lead to significant effects on breastfeeding infants. Infants may experience drowsiness or sedation, which can escalate to more severe central nervous system depression in rare cases. Newborns are particularly vulnerable due to their immature metabolic systems, making them more sensitive to the effects of opioids.
Recommendations for Nursing Mothers
Given the potential risks associated with oxycodone exposure through breast milk, healthcare providers often recommend caution. It is advisable for nursing mothers to discuss their pain management options with their healthcare provider, considering both the necessity of medication and the safety of breastfeeding. In some cases, alternative pain relief methods may be suggested to minimize risks to the infant.
Conclusion
In summary, while Percocet can provide effective pain relief, its presence in breast milk poses risks that require careful consideration. Nursing mothers should engage in open discussions with their healthcare providers to ensure both their health and the safety of their infants are prioritized.

How long do you have to wait to breastfeed after taking a pain pill?

The amount that transfers into breast milk is 2.2-3.7% of your dose. We think short term use is probably ok if you do not exceed 40mg in 24 hours. We recommend taking the medication after nursing so you have a break before nursing again as the medication peaks in the breast milk in the first 2 hours after taking it.

Can I take Percocet and breastfeed?

It’s safe to nurse your baby if you’re taking prescribed opioids for a short period of time, like after surgery. It’s not safe to nurse your baby while you take opioids with other downers like benzodiazepines or alcohol. It’s not safe to nurse your baby while you’re taking opioids that aren’t from a pharmacy.

Can opioids be transferred through breast milk?

Opioid use while nursing may also pose some risk to a breastfed infant, as many opioids pass into breast milk. Use of some opioids in breastfeeding can cause the baby to be very sleepy and have trouble latching on. They may also cause breathing problems for the infant, and in some cases have resulted in infant death.

Do pain killers pass through breast milk?

Almost any drug that’s present in the blood will transfer into breast milk to some extent. Most medications do so at low levels and pose no real risk to most infants.

What is the safest opioid while breastfeeding?

Morphine is the strong opioid analgesic of choice for treating pain in breastfeeding. Recommendations apply to full term and healthy infants only.

What are the strongest painkillers when breastfeeding?

Morphine (Oramorph®, Actimorph®) is the strong opioid of choice while breastfeeding. It can be used with caution at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible duration. Oral morphine is frequently given to mothers after a caesarean section.

How long does it take for oxycodone to leave breast milk?

Conclusions: Oxycodone is concentrated in human breast milk up to 72-h post-partum. Breastfed infants may receive > 10% of a therapeutic infant dose. However, maternal oxycodone intake up to 72-h post-CS poses only minimal risk to the breast-feeding infant as low volumes of breast milk are ingested during this period.

Can you take a percocet while pregnant?

If you take opioids during pregnancy, your baby can be exposed to them in the womb and have symptoms of withdrawal after birth. In newborns, this is called neonatal abstinence syndrome or NAS. Even if you use an opioid exactly like your provider says to, it still may cause NAS in your baby.

Is percocet the same as oxycodone?

Percocet contains five milligrams of oxycodone, which is all released when the pill is taken. Percocet also contains acetaminophen (the drug in Tylenol), which can cause liver damage if you take a lot of it. Oxycodone-CR products contain only oxycodone. When taken as prescribed, the drug is released over several hours.

What is the strongest painkiller I can take while breastfeeding?

Morphine (Oramorph®, Actimorph®) is the strong opioid of choice while breastfeeding. It can be used with caution at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible duration. Oral morphine is frequently given to mothers after a caesarean section. You can use it with caution when breastfeeding.