Is Flunitrazepam safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Flunitrazepam. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Flunitrazepam is metabolized to the active metabolite norflunitrazepam. Maternal Levels. Five nursing mothers were given a single oral dose of flunitrazepam 2 mg (66 mcg/kg) at 8 pm. Milk samples were collected 11, 15 and 27 hours later. The average flunitrazepam concentrations in milk were 2 mcg/L at 11 hours after the dose, 1.7 mcg/L at 15 hours after the dose, and 0.6 mcg/L at 27 hours after the dose. Norflunitrazepam was not detectable ( 0.2 mcg/L) in milk at any of these times.[ 2 , 3 ] From these data, it is estimated that a fully breastfed infant would receive about 1% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.[ 4 ] Two women who were taking oral flunitrazepam donated milk samples between 3 and 6 days postpartum at 2 hours after a dose at the estimated peak serum concentration and just before a dose. One woman who was taking a dose of 1 mg daily had a 2-hour milk level of 2.48 mcg/L and a trough milk level of 0.524 mcg/L. The other woman was taking a dose of 2 mg daily. She had a 2-hour milk level of 4.09 mcg/L and a trough milk level of 1.48 mcg/L. Norflunitrazepam was not measured.[ 5 ] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
“No published information” means the studies do not exist yet — not that Flunitrazepam is known to be harmful, and not that it is known to be safe. Your prescriber or pharmacist can weigh your baby's age and whether a better-studied alternative would do the same job. Worth asking before stopping a medicine you need.
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.