Can you take methohexital while breastfeeding?
What LactMed says
The National Library of Medicine’s own summary, quoted in full. We do not write a verdict of our own on this question, and we do not compress theirs into a label.
Amounts of methohexital in milk are very small. Existing data indicate that no waiting period is required before resuming breastfeeding after a single dose of methohexital. Breastfeeding can be resumed as soon as the mother has recovered sufficiently to nurse. When a combination of anesthetic agents is used for a procedure, follow the recommendations for the most problematic medication used during the procedure.
Quoted from Methohexital — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised December 21, 2020.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of methohexital. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Dexmedetomidine
- Etomidate
- Propofol
- Thiopental
How much methohexital gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Nine women who were at least 1 month postpartum received between 120 and 150 mg of methohexital intravenously for induction of general anesthesia for bilateral tubal ligation. Milk samples were obtained in the recovery room after surgery, the evening of surgery and on the day after surgery. The highest milk level was found at 63 minutes after the dose in one woman. Milk levels 1 to 2 hours after the dose ranged from 100 to 407 mcg/L (n = 5); levels 2 to 4 hours after the dose ranged from 39 to 199 mcg/L (n = 4); levels 8 to 10 hours after the dose ranged from undetectable (<20 mcg/L) to 65 mcg/L (n = 9). Methohexital was not detectable in the breastmilk of any woman 24 to 48 hours after the dose. The authors estimated that the typical breastfed infant would receive a maximum single dose of 0.04 mg of methohexital in a 100 mL feeding 1 hour after the dose or between 0.1 to 0.8% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
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.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take methohexital while breastfeeding?
Amounts of methohexital in milk are very small. The full record is quoted on this page, and the decision is one to make with the person who prescribed it — LactMed itself states it is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What can I take instead of methohexital while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Dexmedetomidine, Etomidate, Propofol, Thiopental as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does methohexital pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for methohexital are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking methohexital?
LactMed does not frame its records that way — it reports measured drug levels in milk and what has been observed in breastfed infants, which is what this page quotes. "Pump and dump" advice for a specific drug and dose should come from your clinician or a pharmacist, not from a general rule.
More on methohexital
LactMed states that the information it presents is not a substitute for professional judgement, and that you should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Nothing on this page is medical advice.