SECOBARBITAL

Fetal Risk Summary

No reports linking the use of secobarbital with congenital defects have been located. The Collaborative Perinatal Project monitored 50,282 mother-child pairs, 378 of whom had 1st-trimester exposure to secobarbital (1). No evidence was found to suggest a relationship to large categories of major or minor malformations or to individual defects. Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn and barbiturate withdrawal are theoretical possibilities (see also Phenobarbital).

An in utero study found no evidence of chromosomal changes on exposure to secobarbital (2).

Breast Feeding Summary

Secobarbital is excreted into breast milk (3). The amount and effects on the nursing infant are not known. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers secobarbital to be compatible with breast feeding (4).

References

1. Heinonen OP, Slone D, Shapiro S. Birth Defects and Drugs in Pregnancy. Littleton, MA: Publishing Sciences Group, 1977:336–7.
2. Stenchever MA, Jarvis JA. Effect of barbiturates on the chromosomes of human cells in vitro—a negative report. J Reprod Med 1970;5:69–71.
3. Wilson JT, Brown RD, Cherek DR, Dailey JW, Hilman B, Jobe PC, Manno BR, Manno JE, Redetzki HM, Stewart JJ. Drug excretion in human breast milk: principles, pharmacokinetics and projected consequences. Clin Pharmacokinet 1980;5:1–66.
4. Committee on Drugs, American Academy of Pediatrics. The transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics 1994;93:137–50.