Is Secobarbital safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what LactMed, the Drugs and Lactation Database published by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reports about Secobarbital. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Because there is little published experience with secobarbital during breastfeeding, other agents may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. If secobarbital is used, monitor the infant for sedation, poor feeding and poor weight gain.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Secobarbital 200 mg given intravenously during labor 10 minutes to 3 hours before delivery for obstetric sedation reduced the sucking behavior of the newborn infants. The number of sucks, sucking pressure and total consumption of artificial feeding from the testing device were reduced Secobarbital 200 mg given intravenously during labor 10 minutes to 3 hours before delivery for obstetric sedation reduced the sucking behavior of the newborn infants. The number of sucks, sucking pressure and total consumption of artificial feeding from the testing device were reduced substantially.[2]
In one small study, women given promethazine with meperidine and secobarbital during labor, had the time to lactogenesis II prolonged by 14 hours. Women given meperidine or secobarbital without promethazine had lactogenesis II prolonged 7 hours compared to unmedicated women, but the difference was not statistically significant.[3]
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Secobarbital was detected, but not quantified, 24 hours after an unspecified dose in a woman who was 4 days postpartum.[1]
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Secobarbital” (LM509). LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.