Xevolac Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy: In view of the known effects of NSAIDs on the foetal cardiovascular system (risk of closure of the ductus arteriosus) ketorolac is contraindicated during pregnancy, labour or delivery.
The safety of ketorolac during human pregnancy has not been established. There was no evidence of teratogenicity in rats or rabbits studied at maternally-toxic doses of ketorolac. Prolongation of the gestation period and/or delayed parturition were seen in the rat. Congenital abnormalities have been reported in association with NSAID administration in man, however these are low in frequency and do not follow any discernible pattern.
Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis may adversely affect the pregnancy and/or the embryo/foetal development. Data from epidemiological studies suggest an increased risk of miscarriage and of cardiac malformation and gastroschisis after use of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor in early pregnancy. The absolute risk for cardiovascular malformation was increased from less than 1%, up to approximately 1.5 %. The risk is believed to increase with dose and duration of therapy. In animals, administration of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor has been shown to result in increased pre- and post-implantation loss and embryo-foetal lethality. In addition, increased incidences of various malformations, including cardiovascular, have been reported in animals given a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor during the organogenetic period.
During pregnancy, all prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors may expose the foetus to: cardiopulmonary toxicity (with premature closure of the ductus arteriosus and pulmonary hypertension);
renal dysfunction, which may progress to renal failure with oligo-hydroamniosis;
the mother and the neonate, at the end of pregnancy, to: possible prolongation of bleeding time, an anti-aggregating effect which may occur even at very low doses;
inhibition of uterine contractions resulting in delayed or prolonged labour.
Ketorolac crosses the placenta to the extent of approximately 10%.
Labour and Delivery: Ketorolac is contraindicated in labour and delivery because, through its prostaglandin synthesis inhibitory effect it may adversely affect foetal circulation and inhibit uterine contractions, thus increasing the risk of uterine haemorrhage.
There may be increased bleeding tendency in both mother and child.
Lactation: Ketorolac and its metabolites have been shown to pass into the foetus and milk of animals. Ketorolac has been detected in human milk at low concentrations therefore ketorolac is contra-indicated in mothers who are breast-feeding.