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ADHD Medication and Pregnancy
Psychiatrists are often approached by women who are trying for a baby or are pregnant, and are concerned about the effects of their ADHD medication. The good news is that research suggests that it is safe to take stimulant medication throughout pregnancy.
The research is based on naturalistic studies which included many first-trimester presentations.
Pregnancy
The birth of a baby and pregnancy are exciting for women, however some can worry about the effects of their ADHD medication on their child who is yet to be born. These medications are known to have potential teratogenic effects and some physicians recommend that patients stop taking their medication while trying to conceive or during the first trimester of pregnancy. Many people with ADHD need their medication in order to function and may struggle in this time without it.
A recent study from Denmark found that first trimester exposure to methylphenidate (in the form of a redeemed prescription) does not appear to increase risk of major malformations as compared to a group of control subjects without prescriptions redeemed during the first trimester of pregnancy. The study utilized registry-based data from various Danish databases to identify pregnant women and their medications prior to and during pregnancy including information on whether the woman was being treated for ADHD.
Researchers followed 898 babies whose mothers had been exposed to methylphenidate and other stimulants during the first trimester. They were compared to 1,270 babies who were part of the group that did not receive methylphenidate, or any other stimulant medication during the first three months of pregnancy.
Both groups of infants were subjected to an extensive examination for abnormalities in the fetal heart, such as gastroschisis or the omphalocele. The results revealed that babies of women exposed to methylphenidate in utero did not have increased rates of any of these conditions as...