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Zolpidem excretion in breast milk
G Pons1, C Francoual, P Guillet
1Department de Pharmacologie Clinique Périnatale et Pédiatrique, Hôpital Saint-Vincent de Paul, Paris, France.
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Zolpidem excretion into breast milk is minimal, with less than 0.02% of the dose transferred in the first 3 hours postpartum. This study indicates low infant exposure risk from zolpidem use in lactating women.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neonatal care
- Lactation studies
Background:
- Zolpidem is a commonly prescribed hypnotic.
- Assessing medication transfer into breast milk is crucial for infant safety.
- Limited data exists on zolpidem pharmacokinetics in lactating women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify zolpidem excretion into human breast milk.
- To determine the pharmacokinetic profile of zolpidem in lactating women.
- To evaluate the potential infant exposure to zolpidem via breast milk.
Main Methods:
- Five healthy lactating women received a single 20 mg dose of zolpidem postpartum.
- Breast milk and plasma samples were collected at multiple time points post-administration.
- Zolpidem concentrations were measured using validated analytical methods.
Main Results:
- Apparent elimination half-life of zolpidem was 2.6 hours.
- Excretion in milk was very low, ranging from 0.004% to 0.019% of the dose within 3 hours.
- No detectable zolpidem was found in milk after 3 hours; milk-to-plasma ratio at 3 hours was 0.13.
Conclusions:
- Zolpidem transfer into human breast milk is negligible.
- The majority of zolpidem excretion occurs within the first 3 hours postpartum.
- Low infant exposure suggests a favorable safety profile for short-term zolpidem use in breastfeeding mothers.