Summary of Use during Lactation

Because no information is available on the long-term use of dantrolene during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. After short-term use, the drug would be expected to be eliminated from milk in 1 to 2 days.

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. Administration of several intravenous dantrolene doses were given over 3 days to a postpartum mother in divided doses. Total daily dosages were 720 mg on day 1, 320 mg on day 2, and 80 mg on day 3. A milk level of 1.2 mg/L was measured on day 2 after a total of 640 mg had been given. The milk level was 50 mcg/L on day 4 about 35 hours after the last dose. Dantrolene half-life in milk was 9.2 hours.[1]

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Alternate Drugs to Consider

Baclofen

References

1.

Fricker RM, Hoerauf KH, Drewe J, et al. Secretion of dantrolene into breast milk after acute therapy of a suspected malignant hyperthermia crisis during cesarean section. Anesthesiology. 1998;89:1023–5. [PubMed: 9778021]

Substance Name

Dantrolene

CAS Registry Number

7261-97-4

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Muscle Relaxants, Central