YOGYAKARTA - Mefenamic acid (mefenamic acid) is often the main choice to treat pain and inflammation, such as menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea), post-operative pain, toothache, and arthritis. This drug is quite safe to consume as long as it is used according to instructions and in recommended doses. Then, how is the safety of mefenamic acid for breastfeeding mothers? Come on, find out the answer in the article below.
How Does Mefenamic Acid WorkMefenamic acid is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) analgesic. Mefenamic acid can be used to treat mild to moderate pain. This drug is also the first choice for treating menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) and other conditions according to the doctor's assessment, quoted from the Mayo Clinic website.
Mefenamic acid works by inhibiting cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that triggers inflammation, pain, and fever, by converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandins, quoted from the DrugBank website.
If the formation of prostaglandins is inhibited by mefenamic acid, the pain, stiffness, redness, and inflammation that arise from physical injury will subside.
Side Effects of Mefenamic AcidA number of side effects that can potentially arise from the use of mefenamic acid, including:
Decreased appetite Stomatitis Gastric pain Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Skin rash Ear ringing Safety of Mefenamat Acid for Breastfeeding MothersIn nursing mothers, the use of mefenamic acid should be avoided or carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. Although safety data are still very limited, studies conducted by experts show that mefenamic acid can be absorbed into breast milk, so it is at risk of harming babies, quoted from the US National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website.
In existing studies, some babies breastfed by mothers using mefenamat acid show traces of the drug in their blood and urine. Although the levels are small, this proves that mefenamat acid can indeed enter the baby's body through breast milk.
Unfortunately, to date, there is not enough data available to determine whether exposure is truly safe in the short or long term.
Risk of Using Mefenamic Acid during BreastfeedingOne of the main reasons why mefenamic acid is less recommended for breastfeeding mothers is its potential toxicity.
Babies, especially newborns and premature babies, have immature liver and kidney functions. This condition makes it more difficult for the baby's body to metabolize and remove drugs, so the risk of side effects can increase.
In addition, to date, no scientific reports have been found that clearly explain the effects of mefenamat acid on breastfed babies or its impact on breast milk production. The absence of this data makes the principle of caution very important.
That's the explanation about mefenamat acid for breastfeeding mothers. Come on, visit VOI.id to get updates on other selected news.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
