Celecoxib in human milk: A case report

Many women of reproductive age take the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug celecoxib. No data exist, however, regarding its transfer into human breast milk and safety for breastfed infants. We had the opportunity to obtain such data when a woman who was breastfeeding her infant daughter underwent emergency surgery to remove a gangrenous appendix. She received four doses of oral celecoxib 100 mg and did not breastfeed her daughter for 48 hours after taking the last dose. We analyzed samples of her breast milk and found a concentration of 133 ng/ml at approximately 5 hours after a 100-mg dose and an elimination half-life of 4.0-6.5 hours. This initial report, which should be substantiated and expanded, provides information that can help counsel parents about breastfeeding and celecoxib.