Secobarbital and Breastfeeding

Summary of use during lactation

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.

Drug levels in milk and infant serum

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.

Effects in breastfed infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on lactation and breastmilk

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]

Alternative drugs to consider

Zaleplon, Zolpidem

References

1. Horning MG, Stillwell WG, Nowlin J, et al. Identification and quantification of drugs and drug metabolites in human breast milk using GC-MS-COM methods. Mod Probl Paediatr 1975;15:73-9.
2. Kron RE, Stein M, Goddard KE. Newborn sucking behavior affected by obstetric sedation. Pediatrics 1966;37:1012-6.5949020 PubMed
3. Hildebrandt HM. Maternal perception of lactogenesis time: A clinical report. J Hum Lact 1999;15:317-23.10776182 PubMed