Can I take nefopam while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about nefopam.
In short
Pregnancy: Nefopam is not usually recommended in pregnancy, because there is little information about how it might affect your baby.
Breastfeeding: If your doctor says you need nefopam, you can take it while breastfeeding.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Paracetamol is generally the painkiller to try first in pregnancy.
- There are stronger painkillers that can be used in pregnancy once you've discussed them with your doctor.
- Speak to your doctor, who will advise you on the most suitable medicine for you and your baby.
Breastfeeding
- Information about nefopam and breastfeeding is limited, but it shows that very small amounts get into breast milk.
- It's unlikely to cause side effects in your baby.
- If you're breastfeeding, paracetamol or ibuprofen are the best painkillers to take.
- This includes if your baby is not feeding normally, is unusually sleepy or sleeping less, is irritable, is sweating, is being sick, or is peeing less (for example, fewer wet nappies).
When to get help
- As a precaution, if anything about your baby worries you, call 111 (NHS 111 in the UK) or get in touch with your health visitor, midwife, doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Nefopam in pregnancy
The NHS says
Nefopam is not usually recommended in pregnancy, because there is little information about how it might affect your baby.
Paracetamol is generally the painkiller to try first in pregnancy. There are stronger painkillers that can be used in pregnancy once you've discussed them with your doctor.
Speak to your doctor, who will advise you on the most suitable medicine for you and your baby.
In our words, from the NHS page Nefopam (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
Nefopam while breastfeeding
The NHS says
If your doctor says you need nefopam, you can take it while breastfeeding.
Information about nefopam and breastfeeding is limited, but it shows that very small amounts get into breast milk. It's unlikely to cause side effects in your baby.
If you're breastfeeding, paracetamol or ibuprofen are the best painkillers to take.
As a precaution, if anything about your baby worries you, call 111 (NHS 111 in the UK) or get in touch with your health visitor, midwife, doctor or pharmacist as soon as you can. This includes if your baby is not feeding normally, is unusually sleepy or sleeping less, is irritable, is sweating, is being sick, or is peeing less (for example, fewer wet nappies).
In our words, from the NHS page Nefopam (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Nefopam is not approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration. The amount of nefopam in breastmilk with usual maternal dosages is small. Nefopam does not appear to adversely affect the milk supply or the neurobehavioral scores of breastfed neonates. Breastfeeding is acceptable during maternal use of nefopam, although some recommend not using it after 48 hours postpartum.[1]
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Nefopam” (LM1315), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Nefopam while breastfeeding.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Acupan.
Sources
- NHS, Nefopam (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 23 April 2024. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Nefopam” (LM1315), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.