Can I Continue Taking My ADHD Medication During Pregnancy?

There are so many things to be concerned with during pregnancy. Some are exciting, like what color you’ll paint the nursery or deciding on a name, while others are more worrisome. 

If you’re one of the 15.5 million adults living with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the United States, another concern may revolve around whether it’s still safe to take your ADHD medication while pregnant. 

Managing ADHD through medication has helped countless people function more effectively as they manage work, relationships, parenting, and more, but can it harm a developing fetus?

At Clarity Psychiatric Care, our knowledgeable and kind team helps you make this and other important decisions as you navigate your ADHD treatment throughout your pregnancy.

What is living with ADHD as an adult like?

Dealing with the challenges of ADHD when you’re an adult isn’t easy. 

ADHD can be missed in childhood by parents, teachers, and doctors, especially in girls. Some kids adapt and learn to manage their symptoms somewhat without ever being diagnosed, and those with milder ADHD may not experience problems until the more weighty and abundant responsibilities of adulthood hit.

The three categories of ADHD are hyperactive, inattentive, and a combination of the two. 

Adult ADHD symptoms include:

• Irritability and moodiness
• Problems managing time and planning effectively
• Missing deadlines
• Easily frustrated
• Not skilled at managing stress well
• Risk-taking behaviors, like driving dangerously or alcohol/drug misuse
• Impulsiveness (not considering possible effects of actions)
• Problems multitasking
• Chronic lateness

Even a quick glance at this list gives you a sense of how chaotic and out-of-control life can feel for an adult experiencing even a couple of these symptoms. Essentially, it’s a recipe for low self-esteem and feeling constantly behind.

I’m pregnant — is taking my ADHD medication still safe?

Although our team offers a variety of treatments for adult ADHD, medication has been found to be a preferred treatment for the 3% of women of reproductive age who live with ADHD because it so successfully treats symptoms, improving quality of life. 

There’s a small risk of a pregnant woman taking ADHD medication and being diagnosed with preeclampsia (pregnancy high blood pressure) or preterm birth, but overall, whether or not a woman should take ADHD meds during their pregnancy is a very individual decision that should be made in close consultation with her OB/GYN and our team.

No definitive studies exist at this point that give clear direction to providers. Furthermore, studies of this sort cannot be conducted because of ethical concerns. In other words, researchers can’t play with the lives of mothers and babies to ascertain the answer to these questions.

This means that the patient and their provider must make the most educated decision possible based on multiple factors, such as:

• The type of ADHD 
• The specific medication 
• The severity of ADHD symptoms
• The patient’s individual health history
• The circumstances surrounding the pregnancy

This is a time when the decision about whether to continue ADHD medication during pregnancy needs to be highly personalized — it warrants an in-depth discussion with our team. 

The Massachusetts General Hospital for Women’s Mental Health has advised that pregnant women who have mild to moderate ADHD symptoms swap out medications for non-pharmacological interventions to manage them, even though we don’t know for certain the effects of ADHD medications on fetal development. 

Though current data suggests that there’s little to no effect on developing babies when their mothers take ADHD medication, it’s not definitive, so mothers will understandably want to take precautions. 

Our Clarity Psychiatric Care team can discuss other ADHD therapies we offer, such as therapy, a toolbox of strategies that help with impulse control and enhancing focus, and lifestyle choice practices that are safe to do while pregnant. 

We’re here to support you during your pregnancy and commit to helping you treat your ADHD in the way that’s the best for you.

Contact our Cherry Hill, New Jersey, office at 856-428-1260 to schedule an appointment with us, or book one online so we can create your pregnancy ADHD treatment plan together.