Attribution Statement: LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.
CASRN: 848-75-9
Drug Levels and Effects
Summary of Use during Lactation
Lormetazepam is not approved for marketing in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lormetazepam has low levels in breastmilk and a short half-life relative to many other benzodiazepines. Limited evidence from nursing mothers indicates that lorazepam does not cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants with usual maternal dosages. Monitor the infant for sedation, poor feeding and poor weight gain.
Drug Levels
Maternal Levels. Five women who were 2 to 3 days postpartum took 2 mg of lormetazepam daily at 8 pm for 10 days. Milk samples were taken just before the dose and 12 hours later. Lormetazepam milk levels were mostly undetectable (<0.2 mcg/L). The authors estimated that a fully breastfed infant would receive about 300 ng daily of lormetazepam plus its glucuronide metabolite. This amount equates to about 0.35% of the maternal dose.[1]
A woman who was 4 weeks postpartum was taking lormetazepam 2 mg once daily at 10 pm as well as lorazepam 2.5 mg 1 to 3 times daily. On day 5 at 4 pm, after 4 doses of lormetazepam, her milk lormetazepam level was 5.3 mcg/L. She did not take lormetazepam on days 5 or 6. On day 6 at 8 am her milk lormetazepam level was 1.7 mcg/L, and on day 7 it was undetectable (<0.016 mcg/L) at 10 am and 2:30 pm.[2]
Infant Levels. Five women who were 2 to 3 days postpartum took 2 mg of lormetazepam daily at 8 pm for 10 days and fully breastfed their infants. Blood samples were taken at 1.5, 5.5 and 9.5 days after the mothers first dose of lormetazepam. No free lormetazepam was detectable in the plasma of any of the infants. Average lormetazepam glucuronide levels in infant plasma were 0.6 mcg/L on day 1.5, 0.45 mcg/L on day 5.5, and 0.3 mcg/L on day 10.[1]
Effects in Breastfed Infants
Five women who were 2 to 3 days postpartum took 2 mg of lormetazepam daily at 8 pm for 10 days and fully breastfed their infants. The authors of the study noted no pharmacological or adverse effects in any of the infants during the study.[1]
References
- 1.
- Hümpel M, Stoppelli I, Milia S, et al. Pharmacokinetics and biotransformation of the new benzodiazepine, lormetazepam, in man. III. Repeated administration and transfer to neonates via breast milk. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1982;21:421-5. [PubMed: 6122580]
- 2.
- Lemmer P, Schneider S, Muhe A, et al. Quantification of lorazepam and lormetazepam in human breast milk using GC-MS in the negative chemical ionization mode. J Anal Toxicol 2007;31:224-6. [PubMed: 17555647]
Substance Identification
Substance Name
Lormetazepam
CAS Registry Number
848-75-9
Drug Class
Breast Feeding
Lactation
Milk, Human
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Anti-Anxiety Agents
Benzodiazepines
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.
- User and Medical Advice Disclaimer
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) - Record Format
- LactMed - Database Creation and Peer Review Process
- Fact Sheet. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) - Glossary
- LactMed Selected References
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) - About Dietary Supplements
- Breastfeeding Links
- PubChem SubstanceRelated PubChem Substances
- PubMedLinks to PubMed
- Review Lorazepam.[Drugs and Lactation Database (...]Review Lorazepam.. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). 2006
- Review Oxazepam.[Drugs and Lactation Database (...]Review Oxazepam.. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). 2006
- Review Flunitrazepam.[Drugs and Lactation Database (...]Review Flunitrazepam.. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). 2006
- Review Flurazepam.[Drugs and Lactation Database (...]Review Flurazepam.. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). 2006
- Review Diazepam.[Drugs and Lactation Database (...]Review Diazepam.. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). 2006
- Lormetazepam - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®)Lormetazepam - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®)
Your browsing activity is empty.
Activity recording is turned off.
See more...