Is Temazepam safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Temazepam. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Ten infants who were less than 15 days old were breastfed by mothers who had taken temazepam 10 or 20 mg (0.16 to 0.32 mg/kg) at bedtime once daily for at least 2 days. None of the infants had any observable adverse reactions.[ 2 ] In a telephone follow-up study, 124 mothers who took a benzodiazepine while nursing reported whether their infants had any signs of sedation. One mother took temazepam while breastfeeding and reported no sedation in her infant.[ 3 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. A woman who had been abusing benzodiazepines was taking diazepam 80 mg of diazepam as well as oxazepam. Temazepam is a metabolite of diazepam. Milk samples were taken before and after the morning feeding following the morning dose of diazepam during a 30-day tapering dosage regimen. The average of the pre- and post-feed temazepam milk levels were 13 and 18 mcg/L on days 14 and 15 during maternal intake of diazepam 40 mg daily. The average of the pre- and post-feed temazepam milk levels were 13 and 14 mcg/L on days 23 and 25 during maternal intake of diazepam 30 mg daily.[ 1 ] Ten women who were less than 15 days postpartum were given temazepam 10 or 20 mg (0.16 to 0.32 mg/kg) at bedtime once daily for at least 2 days prior to being studied. Milk samples were taken immediately before and after a feeding that ranged from 10.3 to 21.3 hours after the dose. Milk temazepam levels were undetectable ( 5 mcg/L) in 9 of the 10 women. In the tenth who had a plasma temazepam of 234 mcg/L (several times higher than the other women), milk temazepam levels were 28 and 26 mcg/L before and after a feed that occurred 14.1 hours after the previous dose of temazepam. Oxazepam, a metabolite of temazepam, was undetectable ( 5 mcg/L) in all of the subjects' milk samples.[ 2 ] Infant Levels. Two breastfed infants had undetectable ( 5 mcg/L) plasma levels of temazepam or its metabolite oxazepam 13.3 and 14.8 hours after maternal doses of temazepam 0.16 and 0.17 mg/kg orally.[ 2 ]
Alternatives LactMed lists
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.