Can You Take Adderall When Pregnant?

Taking adderall during pregnancy has possible side effects for the mother and baby. Pregnant women should consult their doctor to weigh the risks, benefits and alternatives.

When you become pregnant, you have a full list of things you aren’t allowed to do, take, and eat. This list often includes prescription medications. You may be taking them for legitimate reasons, but shouldn’t take them while you’re pregnant because of potential risks to the fetus.

So, what about Adderall? What should you know about the possible risks of using the stimulant while pregnant? The following provides an overview of essential information about its use during pregnancy.

Is it Safe to Continue Adderall Use During Pregnancy?

The simplest answer to this question is: “It depends.” People with certain medical histories are warned against taking Adderall, including people with a history of drug abuse, people with high blood pressure, and pregnant women.

According to the FDA, Adderall is classified as a pregnancy category C drug, meaning that there are possible side effects of the drug during pregnancy. It is not categorized as being safe for pregnant women to use but may be necessary for some women in specific cases.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Doctor Catherine Harrison-Restelli of Sheppard Pratt Health System believes that sometimes stopping the use of the medication can be more harmful.

“[I]f a woman’s ADHD is very severe, I would much rather her take the lowest effective dose of medication to treat her symptoms, rather than to crash her car, burn down the house by leaving the stove on, get fired from work for poor performance, start smoking or using alcohol or drugs to manage stress or have her other children injured in accidents because her ADHD is untreated.” 

She also recommends bupropion for mothers who don’t want to risk being off medication for the duration of their pregnancy.

Whether a mother would like to find a natural alternative to Adderall or stop taking it altogether, a medical professional should be consulted beforehand to help minimize the withdrawal symptoms they may experience.

The Effects on the Fetus

Some of the specific risks of Adderall during pregnancy can include premature birth, low birth weight and having a newborn going through withdrawal because they became physically dependent on the drug during pregnancy. Some evidence also shows using Adderall during pregnancy can reduce blood flow to the fetus.

Breastfeeding mothers are also warned against using it because the drug can pass through breast milk. Some of the symptoms of a baby exposed to Adderall through breast milk include appetite loss, insomnia, restlessness and failure to thrive.

Most studies conducted to find the effects of Adderall on a fetus utilized animal testing. The drug was found to cause birth defects and increase the possibility of miscarriages in lab mice. Adderall also caused the mice to be born prematurely, have a low birth weight and experience withdrawal symptoms.

However, it’s important to note that the lab mice were consuming doses up to six times more of the recommended dosage for a human child. Animal studies also found that exposure to amphetamines in the womb also caused learning difficulties and memory deficits. The effects that Adderall has on human fetuses are thought to be somewhat similar to the effects on lab mice, but researchers have not conducted many experiments.

Reuters Health examined data on more than 1.8 million pregnant women and found that 5,571 of them took an amphetamine, like Adderall, in their first trimester. The research concluded that there was no heightened risk of a baby being born with birth defects or heart malformation, compared to the 11% of babies who experience birth defects from the consumption of methylphenidates like Ritalin.

Common Side Effects & Pregnancy Risks

Using Adderall does carry risks. Some of the side effects and risks include anxiety, nervousness, headache, nausea, vomiting and changes in heart rate and blood pressure. It’s also possibly addictive and suppresses the appetite of users, which is why it’s sometimes misused as a risky way to lose weight.

Despite what people may see as benefits of Adderall, even more severe risks can include psychosis, cardiac arrest, stroke, and, in some cases, death. Adderall can increase the risk of many cardiac problems, particularly when it’s abused or when someone takes it in large doses.

There’s also the potential for Adderall to make certain mental health problems worse or increase your risk of having them, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

These side effects should be emphasized to women when they ask about Adderall during pregnancy because many of these issues can affect the mother and her unborn child. For example, eating a nutritious diet is important during pregnancy, but Adderall changes peoples’ appetites and could prevent a mother from following a good diet. Pregnant women may also be at a higher risk of raised blood pressure. That risk is even more significant when they’re taking Adderall.

Follow Your Doctor’s Recommendation

While there may not be much Adderall-focused research on human fetuses, it’s not advised for pregnant mothers to continue the use of Adderall unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you take Adderall and you’re pregnant, you should speak with your physician about their recommendations when it comes to managing your ADHD symptoms and tapering off the use of Adderall while pregnant.

When it comes to use during pregnancy, the general recommendation is that women shouldn’t use it because it can harm the mother or the unborn baby. Women who have been prescribed Adderall and who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant should speak with their doctor about their specific situation before stopping use. There are some cases where your doctor may have you continue taking it as prescribed during your pregnancy.

Alternatives to Taking Adderall While Pregnant

Doctor Eva Ritvo, a Miami Beach psychiatrist, suggests that expecting mothers use antidepressants in place of Adderall or other stimulants to reduce the risks associated with their usage. In an interview with the Parents Network, Ritvo explained how there could be ways to manage ADHD without the use of prescription drugs.

“Non-pharmacological ways of treating ADHD include exercise and psychotherapy and can be effective in treating the disease if medication needs to be avoided.”

Other activities to relieve stress can include massage therapy and meditation, which can be helpful throughout a woman’s pregnancy and during labor.

Editor – Melissa Carmona

Melissa Carmona puts years of writing and editing experience to work helping people understand substance abuse, addiction and mental health disorders. Read more

Medically Reviewed By – Benjamin Caleb Williams, RN

Benjamin Caleb Williams is a board-certified Emergency Nurse with several years of clinical experience, including supervisory roles within the ICU and ER settings. Read more