Is Butalbital safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Butalbital. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
The mother of a newborn took a product containing acetaminophen 325 mg, butalbital 50 mg, and caffeine 40 mg every 6 hours for 24 hours for a spinal headache, with the last dose a day prior to presentation at the emergency department. Her 7-day-old infant had a history of 1 to 2 days of poor feeding, lethargy and vomiting. The infant was somnolent, lethargic, and demonstrating diminished reflexes. The urine was qualitatively positive for barbiturate and had also had 1 mg/L of caffeine 15 hours after hospital admission. The infant's symptoms resolved within 24 hours. The symptoms were probably caused by butalbital.[ 1 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Infant Levels. A 7-day-old breastfed infant's urine was qualitatively positive for barbiturate after his mother took a combination of butalbital 50 mg with acetaminophen 325 mg and caffeine 50 mg every 6 hours for 24 hours.[ 1 ]
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.