OBJECTIVES: confront information contained in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs labels and information leaflets with the scientific data on their use during lactation. METHODS: a bibliographic review was performed using the terms: "breastfeeding", "lactating", "drugs", "medication", "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" and "information leaflets". The information obtained in articles and books were compared with the information in leaflets and labels on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during the breastfeeding period. RESULTS: among the 27 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs commercialized in Brazil, only 14 (51.9%) contained safety information related to use during breastfeeding. In the information leaflets of ten non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs considered safe for use during breastfeeding, nine (90%) had information in their leaflets to avoid use during breastfeeding, or to discontinue breastfeeding. In the information leaflets of 11 of the 13 non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (84.6%) which had no information on the use by lactating women there was a suggestion to either avoid use or discontinue breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: information contained in the leaflets is not consistent with the scientific evidence related to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use and breastfeeding. There's a need of further knowledge related to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and their use during breastfeeding.
Breast feeding; Lactation; Pharmaceutical preparations; Medicine package inserts
