Authored by Rachela Smith and Dr. Jonathan Zipursky and reviewed by First Exposure Medical Review Team.
Rachela Smith, BASc, is a medical student at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University.
Dr. Jonathan Zipursky MD, PhD, FRCPC, is a Medical Advisor at First Exposure, a Clinician-Scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Sunnybrook Research Institute and an assistant Professor, Department of Medicine & Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto.
This health topic is an expert opinion about ADHD during pregnancy and lactation.
* The information provided is the expert opinion of the First Exposure Medical Advisors. It is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical care and advice from a healthcare provider. Please contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or to discuss any questions that you believe may be relevant to you or your baby. In case of emergency, please go to the emergency room or call 911.
If you do not have a healthcare provider please go to: Finding a Healthcare Provider
Clinical scenario:
I have been taking medications for my ADHD since Grade 10. I just discovered I’m pregnant. Can I keep taking my medications?
Q. What is ADHD?
A. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that affects daily functioning.
People living with ADHD may have difficulties with:
- Attention – focusing on tasks and paying attention
- Hyperactivity – constantly moving, fidgeting, or talking too much
- Impulsivity – acting without thinking and difficulty with self-control.
Q. What are the most common treatments for ADHD?
A. Non-medication treatments include cognitive-behavioral therapy, support groups, getting extra help at school, and learning organizational skills. Prescription stimulants are the most common medications used to treat ADHD, and include:
- Methylphenidate (Biphentin®, Concerta®, Foquest®, Ritalin®)
- Amphetamines:
- Mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall®)
- Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
- Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse®)
Non-stimulant medications such as guanfacine (Intuniv XR®) and atomoxetine (Strattera®) are also used to treat ADHD. This health topic will focus on the use of prescription stimulants for the treatment of ADHD.
Q. Can prescription stimulants be used while trying to get pregnant?
A. Studies have not been done to see if use of prescription stimulants might make it harder to become pregnant.
Q. Does taking prescription stimulants in pregnancy increase the chance of a miscarriage?
A. Miscarriage occurs in approximately 15-25% of pregnancies (1 in 4 pregnancies). Studies have not examined whether the use of prescription amphetamines increases the risk of miscarriage. Some studies suggested that methylphenidate use during pregnancy may be linked to a slightly higher rate of miscarriage. However, other studies suggested that this observed risk might not be related to methylphenidate, but instead to ADHD and other associated factors. Please see methylphenidate drug page for more details.
Q. Does taking prescription stimulants in pregnancy increase the chance of a birth defect?
A. Most pregnancies result in a healthy baby, but there are chances of complications and unexpected outcomes. These chances are called baseline risks. In Canada, the baseline risk of major birth defects is 3-5%. This means that 3-5 out of 100 babies born in the general population in Canada will be born with a major birth defect. Studies have not found an increased risk of birth defects among pregnancies exposed to prescription amphetamines or methylphenidate. However, some studies have reported a small increased risk of heart defects with methylphenidate use during pregnancy, while other studies have not.
Q. Does taking prescription stimulants in pregnancy increase the risk of any other harmful outcomes?
A. Most studies have not found an increased risk of preterm delivery, neonatal intensive care unit admission, small for gestational age (low birth weight), or placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before birth), in pregnancies exposed to prescription amphetamines or methylphenidate. However, these findings are based on limited studies, and more data are needed.
Q. Do prescription stimulants increase the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy?
A. Stimulant use has been linked to high blood pressure (hypertension). Some data have suggested a small increased risk of developing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (e.g., gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia) in people taking prescription stimulants, while others have not. More information is needed to confirm these risks.
Q. Does prescription stimulant use during pregnancy result in any long-term risks to the child?
A. Studies show that prescription stimulant use during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, seizure disorders) or growth impairment in children.
Q. Can prescription stimulants be used while nursing?
A. The relative infant dose (RID) is a measurement that estimates how much medication is ingested by a nursing infant as compared to the mother. Most medications with an RID of less than 10% are usually compatible with breastfeeding a healthy infant. There are limited data on the use of methylphenidate and prescription amphetamines during breastfeeding. The RID for methylphenidate is estimated to be less than 1% and for prescription amphetamines 4%-10.6%. No serious adverse effects were reported in infants exposed to stimulants via breastmilk. Please see the methylphenidate drug page for more information.
Q. Advice for specific populations?
A. The effects of amphetamine and methylphenidate use during pregnancy and postpartum may differ for people using these drugs not as prescribed or purchased through the street supply. Use of stimulants not as prescribed or those purchased through the street supply during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm delivery, severe maternal illness, maternal death, placental abruption, low birth weight, intrauterine fetal death, and infant death. However, these adverse effects may also be related to factors associated with substance use (e.g., poor maternal nutrition, domestic violence, inadequate prenatal care, and use of other drugs or substances). Some studies also suggest that such use of amphetamines during pregnancy is also linked to abnormal infant development and behavior. Breastfeeding is not recommended with use of stimulants purchased through the street supply or when not used as prescribed.
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Disclaimer
First Exposure does not offer health care treatment. If you have an urgent question about your pregnancy or your baby’s health, you should contact your health care provider directly. If you don’t have a health care provider and you live in Ontario, you have a variety of health care options. In the case of an emergency, visit a hospital emergency room or call 911.