Percocet is a prescription pain medicine that combines oxycodone, an opioid, with acetaminophen. It may sometimes be prescribed after childbirth or surgery when other pain treatments do not provide enough relief.
Oxycodone can enter breast milk. Breastfeeding does not always have to stop when a clinician prescribes a short course of Percocet, but the medicine requires careful professional supervision and close observation of the baby.
Newborns can be particularly sensitive to opioids. Excessive exposure may cause unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, limpness, or breathing problems. LactMed reports that sedation and breathing pauses have occurred in breastfed infants exposed to oxycodone, although serious reactions are uncommon.
Medical notice: This article provides general educational information. It does not replace advice from your doctor, pharmacist, pediatrician, or lactation professional. Do not begin, change, or stop a prescription opioid without speaking with the healthcare professional managing your treatment.
What Is Percocet?
Percocet contains two active ingredients:
- Oxycodone, an opioid pain medicine
- Acetaminophen, a non-opioid pain reliever
The medicine is intended for pain severe enough to require an opioid when other treatments are ineffective, not tolerated, or otherwise inadequate. Current prescribing information also warns that oxycodone carries risks of sedation, breathing problems, misuse, dependence, overdose, and accidental ingestion.
Percocet is not the same as oxycodone-only products. It is also different from extended-release oxycodone.
Because Percocet already contains acetaminophen, taking another medication that also contains acetaminophen can unintentionally result in duplicate exposure. Cold, flu, headache, and nighttime medicines may contain it without making that obvious on the front of the package.
Always review every active ingredient with a doctor or pharmacist.
Can You Take Percocet While Breastfeeding?
There is no universal yes-or-no answer.
A healthcare professional may sometimes prescribe immediate-release oxycodone for a short period after delivery, particularly when non-opioid medicines do not provide adequate relief. However, the decision should consider:
- How severe the pain is
- Whether non-opioid treatments are suitable
- The prescribed medicine and formulation
- How long treatment is expected to continue
- The baby’s age and health
- Whether the baby was born prematurely
- Whether the baby is exclusively breastfed
- Other medicines being taken
- The parent’s response to the medication
LactMed states that required short-term oxycodone use is not automatically a reason to discontinue breastfeeding, but it recommends limiting opioid exposure and closely observing the infant. MotherToBaby similarly explains that breastfeeding benefits and the need to treat pain should be weighed against possible risks.
Do not interpret this as permission to take Percocet without a prescription or to change the prescribed amount independently.
How Does Oxycodone Affect Breast Milk?
Oxycodone is present in breast milk.
The current Percocet prescribing information reports that oxycodone can concentrate in breast milk. Although one lactation study found relatively low infant exposure and did not attribute adverse events to oxycodone among the studied infants, the label still recommends monitoring for excessive sedation and respiratory depression.
The amount reaching a baby can vary because of differences in:
- The prescribed amount
- Frequency and duration of use
- The parent’s metabolism
- Milk production
- The baby’s milk intake
- The baby’s age
- The baby’s ability to process and eliminate the medicine
- Other medicines used by the parent
A low estimated transfer into milk does not guarantee that every infant will respond in the same way.
Why Are Newborns More Vulnerable?
Newborns process and eliminate many medicines more slowly than older babies and adults.
The risk may be greater when a baby:
- Is only a few days or weeks old
- Was born prematurely
- Has a low birth weight
- Has breathing difficulties
- Has liver or kidney problems
- Is medically fragile
- Is exclusively breastfed
- Is already unusually sleepy or difficult to feed
LactMed notes that newborns appear particularly sensitive to even small amounts of opioid pain medicine. Younger and exclusively breastfed babies therefore require especially careful monitoring.
Parents should tell the prescriber and pediatrician about any health condition that could affect the baby’s ability to tolerate medication exposure.
Warning Signs to Watch for in the Baby
Carefully observe a breastfed baby while the parent is taking Percocet.
Contact the baby’s healthcare professional immediately when the baby:
- Is much sleepier than usual
- Is difficult to wake for feeding
- Does not latch normally
- Sucks weakly
- Feeds much less than usual
- Has fewer wet diapers
- Appears unusually floppy or limp
- Does not respond normally
- Breathes more slowly than usual
- Has pauses in breathing
- Makes unusual breathing sounds
MotherToBaby and the current medication label identify increased sleepiness, poor feeding, breathing difficulty, and limpness as important warning signs.
Seek emergency medical help when the baby:
- Cannot be awakened normally
- Has severe difficulty breathing
- Stops breathing
- Appears limp or unresponsive
- Develops blue or gray lips or skin
Do not wait for a routine appointment when these symptoms occur.
What Should You Do If the Baby Becomes Sleepy?
Normal newborns sleep frequently, so it can be difficult to judge whether sleepiness is unusual.
Signs of concerning sedation may include:
- Sleeping through several expected feeds
- Being difficult to wake
- Falling asleep immediately after latching
- Sucking much more weakly than before
- Taking substantially less milk
- Appearing floppy when picked up
- Breathing slowly or irregularly
Contact the pediatrician promptly when you notice a meaningful change from the baby’s usual pattern.
Do not give the baby caffeine, sugar water, tea, or another home remedy to make them more alert. Do not simply wait for the medicine to wear off when the baby has feeding or breathing difficulties.
Does Taking Percocet Mean You Must Pump and Dump?
Not necessarily.
Discarding breast milk is not automatically required every time a breastfeeding parent receives an opioid prescription. The appropriate plan depends on the exact medicine, treatment duration, baby’s age, baby’s health, and professional assessment.
Ask the prescriber and pediatrician:
- Whether breastfeeding can continue
- Whether temporary interruption is needed
- What symptoms to monitor
- Whether stored milk or formula may be needed
- When normal breastfeeding can resume after any interruption
Do not rely on a fixed online waiting period. Medicine clearance differs between people, and exposure may depend on repeated use rather than only the timing of one tablet.
Anyone who has already taken a prescribed dose should not panic or make an abrupt feeding change without professional guidance unless the baby develops urgent warning signs.
Pain Relief Options While Breastfeeding
Postpartum pain should be treated. Uncontrolled pain can interfere with movement, rest, feeding, recovery, and caring for a newborn.
Healthcare professionals often use a stepwise approach. When medically appropriate, non-opioid treatments may be considered before or alongside an opioid.
ACOG states that ibuprofen is commonly a preferred first step for postpartum pain because little passes into breast milk. Acetaminophen is also commonly used during breastfeeding. Individual circumstances, including allergies, liver disease, kidney disease, bleeding concerns, and other medicines, still matter.
A clinician may also consider:
- Ice or heat when appropriate
- Position changes
- Support for the affected area
- Treatment of the underlying cause
- Physical recovery measures
- Non-opioid prescription options
- A limited opioid course for severe breakthrough pain
Do not replace Percocet with another medicine without checking with the prescriber. Another option may have its own breastfeeding risks or may be unsuitable for the underlying condition.
Avoid Duplicate Acetaminophen
Percocet already contains acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen may also appear in products intended for:
- Headaches
- Colds and flu
- Sinus symptoms
- Fever
- Menstrual pain
- Arthritis
- Nighttime symptoms
- General pain relief
Check the active ingredients rather than relying only on the brand name.
Before taking any additional medicine, tell the pharmacist that you are using a combination product containing both oxycodone and acetaminophen. Do not combine acetaminophen-containing products unless a healthcare professional has confirmed the complete plan.
Too much acetaminophen can cause serious liver injury.
Avoid Other Sedating Substances
Combining Percocet with other substances that cause drowsiness can increase the risk of dangerous sedation and breathing problems.
The current Percocet label warns about combining it with substances such as:
- Other opioid medicines
- Benzodiazepines
- Sleeping medicines
- Certain anxiety medicines
- Some muscle relaxants
- Some nerve-pain medicines
- Alcohol
- Other central nervous system depressants
Do not add an over-the-counter sleep product, antihistamine, herbal sedative, or another pain medicine without checking with a doctor or pharmacist.
The risks apply to the person taking Percocet and may also affect their ability to safely care for the baby.
Do Not Bed-Share While Taking a Sedating Medicine
Percocet can cause sleepiness, dizziness, reduced alertness, and slowed breathing.
A person taking an opioid should not sleep while holding a baby on:
- An adult bed
- A couch
- An armchair
- A recliner
- Their chest
- A cushion or nursing pillow
Place the baby on their back in a separate, firm, flat sleep space such as a safety-approved crib, bassinet, bedside sleeper, or play yard.
Ask another responsible, alert adult for help when the medicine makes you unusually sleepy or unsteady. Do not carry the baby on stairs or prepare bottles while feeling severely sedated.
Do Not Stop Regular Opioid Use Suddenly
A person who has been taking Percocet regularly may develop physical dependence.
Stopping suddenly can lead to withdrawal symptoms. MotherToBaby advises that anyone who has been taking oxycodone regularly or has opioid dependence should not make an abrupt change without professional guidance.
Contact the prescriber when:
- You have taken it regularly for more than a brief period
- You feel unwell when a dose is delayed
- You believe you need more medicine than prescribed
- The medicine no longer controls the pain
- You are worried about dependence
- You want to stop breastfeeding
- You want to stop the medication
Withdrawal symptoms may also occur in a breastfed infant when ongoing maternal opioid use stops or when breastfeeding ends abruptly. This is another reason to involve both the prescriber and pediatrician in the plan.
Safe Storage Around Babies and Children
Even one accidental dose of an opioid can cause life-threatening breathing problems in a child.
Store Percocet:
- In its original labeled container
- Locked and out of sight
- Away from handbags, counters, and bedside tables
- Where children and visitors cannot access it
- Separately from ordinary household medicines when possible
Never share Percocet with another person. Do not save leftover tablets for an unrelated future illness.
Use a pharmacy or community medication take-back program for unused medicine when one is available. Follow official disposal instructions provided by the pharmacist or product label.
What If You Took Someone Else’s Percocet?
Contact a healthcare professional or poison-control service promptly.
Provide:
- The exact product name
- The strength shown on the label
- The number of tablets taken
- The approximate time
- Other medicines or substances used
- Whether you are breastfeeding
- The baby’s age and health
Seek emergency help immediately for severe sleepiness, breathing difficulty, confusion, fainting, or unresponsiveness.
Never take another person’s prescription. Different Percocet products may contain different ingredient strengths, and a medicine prescribed for one person may be unsafe for another.
When to Contact Your Healthcare Professional
Contact your prescriber or pharmacist when:
- You are breastfeeding and have been prescribed Percocet
- You are uncertain whether to continue nursing
- Pain is not adequately controlled
- The medication causes severe drowsiness or dizziness
- You are taking other sedating medicines
- You need Percocet longer than expected
- You believe you may be developing dependence
- You have liver, kidney, lung, or breathing problems
- You accidentally took more than prescribed
- You are considering stopping regular use
Contact the pediatrician promptly when the baby feeds less, is harder to wake, appears unusually sleepy, or behaves differently from usual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Percocet safe while breastfeeding?
Percocet cannot be described as completely risk-free during breastfeeding. Oxycodone enters breast milk and can cause sedation, feeding problems, or breathing difficulty in some infants.
A clinician may sometimes prescribe it for short-term severe pain after weighing the benefits and risks.
Does Percocet lower milk supply?
The current product information states that there are not enough data to determine oxycodone’s effects on milk production. Pain, stress, illness, feeding frequency, and postpartum recovery can also affect milk supply.
Can Percocet make a breastfed baby sleepy?
Yes. Unusual infant sleepiness is a recognized concern. Watch for difficulty waking, weak feeding, limpness, and breathing changes.
Is acetaminophen the risky ingredient?
The greater breastfeeding concern in Percocet is generally oxycodone. Acetaminophen enters breast milk in low concentrations and is commonly used during breastfeeding.
However, because Percocet already contains acetaminophen, combining it with other acetaminophen products can cause excessive exposure.
Can I breastfeed immediately after taking Percocet?
Do not rely on a universal timing rule. The appropriate plan depends on the prescribed formulation, pattern of use, baby’s age, baby’s health, and other factors.
Ask the prescriber or pharmacist for instructions specific to your prescription.
Is extended-release oxycodone the same as Percocet?
No. Percocet is a combination of immediate-release oxycodone and acetaminophen. Extended-release oxycodone products are different.
LactMed does not recommend extended-release oxycodone products for nursing mothers.
Should I wake the baby to check them?
Follow the baby’s normal feeding plan and any instructions provided by the pediatrician. A baby who cannot be awakened normally for feeding or appears unusually difficult to wake needs prompt medical assessment.
Can I stop Percocet as soon as the pain improves?
A brief prescription may sometimes be stopped as directed, but anyone who has taken it regularly should consult the prescriber before stopping abruptly.
Can I take a sleep aid with Percocet?
Do not combine Percocet with a sleep medicine, sedating antihistamine, herbal sleep product, or another substance that causes drowsiness without medical approval. Combining sedating substances can increase the risk of breathing problems.
The Bottom Line
Percocet contains oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone enters breast milk and can affect a breastfed baby.
Breastfeeding does not always need to stop when Percocet is medically necessary, but the medicine should be:
- Prescribed specifically for the person taking it
- Used only according to professional instructions
- Limited to the shortest reasonable course
- Reviewed alongside other medicines
- Kept securely away from children
- Accompanied by careful infant monitoring
Seek immediate medical help when a baby becomes unusually difficult to wake, feeds poorly, appears limp, or has trouble breathing.
Sources
- LactMed: Oxycodone During Breastfeeding
- DailyMed: Percocet Prescribing Information
- MotherToBaby: Oxycodone During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Postpartum Pain Management
- ACOG: Stepwise Approach to Postpartum Pain Management
- MedlinePlus: Oxycodone Drug Information
