Diazepam Gel while Breastfeeding

Do you know that important immune protective proteins are present in breast milk? Breast milk also contains required vitamins, minerals, saturated and un saturated fats. These things are extremely important for development of healthy brain. If you are taking any medicine for short term or for the chronic reason then that passes in breast milk as well, that is why you should always check the drug with your health care provider. Here at DrLact we try to analyze drugs based on available researches and in this sheet we will present our analysis for Diazepam Gel.

What is Diazepam Gel used for?


Diazepam rectal gel is a gel formulation of diazepam intended for rectal administration in the management of selected, refractory, patients with epilepsy, on stable regimens of AEDs, who require intermittent use of diazepam to control bouts of increased seizure activity. Evidence to support the use of diazepam rectal gel was adduced in two controlled trials (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, CLINICAL STUDIES subsection) that enrolled patients with partial onset or generalized convulsive seizures who were identified jointly by their caregivers and physicians as suffering intermittent and periodic episodes of markedly increased seizure activity, sometimes heralded by nonconvulsive symptoms, that for the individual patient were characteristic and were deemed by the prescriber to be of a kind for which a benzodiazepine would ordinarily be administered acutely. Although these clusters or bouts of seizures differed among patients, for any individual patient the clusters of seizure activity were not only stereotypic but were judged by those conducting and participating in these studies to be distinguishable from other seizures suffered by that patient. The conclusion that a patient experienced such unique episodes of seizure activity was based on historical information.

Is Diazepam Gel usage safe while breastfeeding? If a lactating mother is using it can there be any effect on growth or development of infant?

Diazepam Gel low risk for breastfeeding
Diazepam Gel contains only one active ingredient that is Diazepam. We have analyzed the usage of Diazepam in breastfeeding and our analysis suggest that Diazepam poses Low risk for infant while breastfeeding and hence Diazepam Gel itself shall be considered Low risk item for breastfeeding.

Statement of Manufacturer/Labeler about breastfeeding usage
Nursing Mothers Because diazepam and its metabolites may be present in human breast milk for prolonged periods of time after acute use of diazepam rectal gel, patients should be advised not to breast-feed for an appropriate period of time after receiving treatment with diazepam rectal gel.

Diazepam Gel Breastfeeding Analsys


Diazepam while Breastfeeding

Low Risk

CAS Number: 439-14-5

It is a long-acting Benzodiazepine. Low excreted into breast milk. However, it may cause sedation and poor suction reflex in the infant mostly because of large or repetitive use in the newborn period. Low dose and short-term use is usually compatible with breastfeeding. Choose a short-acting and minimal effective drug dose specially when nursing a newborn. Watch out for somnolence and poor feeding of the infant. Bed-sharing is not recommended for mothers who are taking this medication.

Diazepam Gel Breastfeeding Analsys - 2


Diazepam while Breastfeeding

CAS Number: 439-14-5

Diazepam is excreted into breastmilk and it and its active metabolite, nordiazepam, accumulate in the serum of breastfed infants with repeated doses. Because the half-life of diazepam and nordiazepam are long, timing breastfeeding with respect to the dose is of little or no benefit in reducing infant exposure. Other agents are preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. After a single dose of diazepam, as for sedation before a procedure, there is usually no need to wait to resume breastfeeding, although with a newborn or preterm infant, a cautious approach would be to wait a period of 6 to 8 hours before resuming nursing.

Diazepam Gel and breastfeeding

I already used Diazepam Gel and meanwhile I breastfed my baby should I be concerned?

During whole lactation period you shall first discuss with your doctor and then together you shall decide whether you shall take that drug or not however if you have already taken Diazepam Gel then you shall inform your doctor, But you should not be worried too much as Diazepam Gel comes in category of low risk drug.


I am nursing mother and my doctor has suggested me to use Diazepam Gel, is it safe?

Diazepam Gel comes in category of low risk and if your doctor is aware that you are breastfeeding it should be ok to use without much concerns.


If I am using Diazepam Gel, will my baby need extra monitoring?

Not much


Who can I talk to if I have questions about usage of Diazepam Gel in breastfeeding?

US
National Womens Health and Breastfeeding Helpline: 800-994-9662 (TDD 888-220-5446) 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday

UK
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300-100-0212 9.30am to 9.30pm, daily
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300-330-5453
La Leche League: 0345-120-2918
The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300-456-2421
National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300-330-0700

Australia
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 1800-686-268 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Canada
Telehealth Ontario for breastfeeding: 1-866-797-0000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Drug Brands with same Active ingredients

Diazepam Intensol Solution, Concentrate