Adderall and pregnancy/breastfeeding

By Bertha66 Wednesday, February 27, 2008

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Hi,

My name is Erin. I am 41 years old. I was diagnosed with ADHD a little over a year ago. I started taking Adderall XR and it helped. I take 60mg per day. On the advice of my psychiatrist I've continued taking it right through my pregnancy (I'm 37 weeks now). I also had a consult with a high risk OB/GYN who also gave the OK. I am wondering if anyone else has taken this Rx while pregnant or breastfeeding (or if any professionals on this site have any feeling on the subject) and if so were there any problems/issues/concerns? My psychiatrist indicated that the size of the child was the only real concern and it was not a significant effect. I've had many ultrasounds and the last one indicated the baby is already 7.5 lbs and in the 75th percentile. My first child weighed 9lbs 10 oz at birth so I figured a little smaller would be great.

I'm a little worried now that there may be some kind of withdrawal for the baby when born. I will be nursing but eventually there will be formula added and I myself start to feel VERY groggy and lethargic to the point of taking to bed whenever I forget to take it. I'm wondering if that type of effect could happen for the baby.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Erin

Comments (108) | Add comment

grandma lise

2/27/08 10:12pm

Hey Erin,

I emailed you some information that I received today from the Hallowell Center. I don't know if it will go directly to you or if you can only open it here. Perhaps one of the other members can share how this works.

Grandma Lise

Melissa

1/ 9/10 9:32am

Erin,

i would like to know if your baby is still alive and if so how long it's lived while outside of your body not as dependant on you. I would like to know if your baby is retarded or if it has major birth defects that the ultra sound could not detect. can it walk and talk pee and poop normally, was it able to be potty trained, can it eat on it's own, is it a happy baby, physically is it deformed or not? since 1/4 of the brain controls the eyes did the brain develop good and are the eyes normal. does it have behavior issues. I know adderall gives a uphoric effect so you might have been all speed out typing your comment with no worries in the world about your baby...i'd like to know about it now. how old is he/she, are they normal? maybe the truth hurts too much to tell....and maybe it would be too humbling?? hhhmmmmmmmmmm.......wonder where the studies are on that? or the overly confident mothers who took it through their whole pregnancy? melissajoy@hotmail.com

Melissa

1/ 9/10 9:49am

Hey, i just want to point out to everyone that I think this is a phoney site. notice how Erin's origional message has no reply button. why can't she be notified through email just like everyone else when a response is posted? and why hasnt she replied. If your looking for some comfort on your drug addiction you should not find it here. Get your mind off of yourself and stop your drugs, that's what they are! if the actual Erin replies with some pictures, videos and a story of her baby, it may be a little more convincing...otherwise your probably just linked up with the pharmacy's. do you know how much money the government would make on 9 more months of taking 60mg a day?

melissajoy@hotmail.com

1/10/10 3:40pm

REALLY REALLY REALLY SORRY!! oK I ADMIT, I WAS MEAN AND RUDE, AND THESE WOMEN DID NOT DESERVE TO HEAR THE UNKIND WORDS I WROTE TO THEM. MAYBE I WAS TOO CONFIDENT IN THINKING IT WOULD HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS AND THAT THESE WERE TERRIBLE WOMEN. I WAS REALLY WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN CONSUMPTION OF ADDERALL AND HOW IT EFFECTED MY BABY AND I WAS SO WORRIED. PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY AND I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSES I GOT.

Caden Calls Me Mommy

7/ 6/10 1:18pm

That was completely uncalled for. Erin, a mother-to-be, came here seeking guidance and support and answers to her concerns regarding medication she was prescribed. Her doctors, who are educated and experienced in maternal fetal care, allowed her to remain on her medication during her pregnancy and they obviously took into account any developmental complications when weighing the benefits vs. the risks.

Obviously you are uneducated to come her spouting out complete BS about half the brain controlling the eyes and you know nothing about how a fetus develops in utero. No one single teratogen (any medication, chemical, environmental agent, pathogen or disease that crosses the placenta and possibly interferes with a pregnancy and fetal growth, health and development) causes that much damage to a fetus except perhaps constant binge drinking but even that is a stretch. Teratogens can have an effect on the specific area of fetal development that is occurring at the time in passes through the placenta. For instance, benzodiazapines such as Xanax or Valium (which are completely different than amphetamines mind you) have been shown to cause cleft palate if the mother takes them in large quantities early in her pregnancy, around weeks 4-8 when the palates are forming.

But adderal isn't even considered to be that sort of teretogen: it doesn't cause any known specific birth defect or malformation.

So rather than accuse a mother of being some sort of uncaring monster, why don't you do some research first and take some advice from Thumper, "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all." Or maybe I should say that in a way you are more likely able to understand: Shut up and BACK OFF.

someone

11/ 8/10 2:17pm

Are you the same Melissa Joy who has a clothes website on fb? You are a mean, and horrible person. I am unfriending you immediately. Yuk.

mindjag

4/26/11 3:21pm

It's weird....but all I am noticing is YOU (MelissaJoy)--how you can't spell or punctuate a sentence correctly all while barking like a rabid dog about how someone's child is going to be retarded. I wonder if this child will grow up and know to capitalize the first word of a sentence? I wonder if this child will grow up to be some super-controlling web-troll like you? I wonder if you was YOUR mother who took the wrong medications during her pregnancy with you? Is this the reason for your unlearned and ill-advised tirade?

By the way, madam, why the hell should ANYONE post a photo of their child on the web to satisfy the sick curiosity of a random stranger who just wants to troll sites where folks post legitimate questions? Who the hell are YOU to demand anything of anyone?

As someone surfing for information/help/advice right now (2011) about certain medications and their risks during pregnancy, I find it appalling that you found it necessary to rant and rave at someone (which you should have realized would FOREVER be on the internet) instead of just saying, "I don't think that's a good idea. In my opinion, maybe lay off that medication for now."

See, from the time of that post of yours until Lord knows when, people who were once willing to look for help and advice will be turned off out of fear of finding meddling and judgmental people like you will bash and shame them.

You could have helped. You chose to hurt. Perhaps you should think of that before you post something like that?

empathetic erica

6/28/11 2:43pm

your comments are absolutly unacceptable. you should take into consideration that these people are HUMAN BEINGS that have real feelings and concerns too. i cant believe your heartless, inappropirate and unhelpful lashing out at an innocent question. How would you like to be asked if your baby was even alive? or if it was retarded? of how would you like to be accused as abeing a drug addict? i sure hope your not a mother yourself. if so, i will pray for you child to not be emotionally abused.

sarah

7/19/11 11:12pm

wow what harsh words.. there is one way to say you don't think its a good idea write something so harsh is awful. I am a mother that lost a baby by doing everything right and to hear the way you put that is awful.. shame on you for making someone seeking help feel like shit!

debbie shaw

10/14/11 12:25am

Dear, it gives a euphoric effect if you DON'T have a disorder, except in the case of a side effect. I've been on adderall for 16 years now, (since I was 13) and euphoria was never even on the table.

She's having a child at the age of 41. Statistically, a baby of a woman over the age of 40 has a higher risk of bieth defects than a baby from COUSINS. So frankly, you cannot simply ask if there were any defects, as you can't account for the reason why.

There is a great amount of paranoia about taking "chemicals" while pregnant, but who bats an eyelash at prenatal vitamins? Do you honestly think that they're solid vitamin? There are fillers, there are lead.

It's all too easy to pin the blame on a medication that has been proven to help some people, but that others cannot take. Some people can't eat peanuts, but that hardly means that peanuts are evil, and the peanut industry is shovelling poison into the country...

Sorry, I'm having a bit of a rant.

saphi25

12/ 7/11 9:58am

Wow! I'm reading the comments you posted and I am amazed that you had the nerve to post them without doing any type of research first. I was diagnosed with ADD at the age of 23 and have been taking Adderall since that time. I did not take the medication for my first 2 pregnancies but the older I get the worse my symptoms have become. When I became pregnant for my 3rd child I was at a point where not taking the medication was not an option because of the severity of the ADD. I am a nurse and both myself and my OB/GYN did extensive research on continuing adderall during pregnancy. If a woman is taking the medication correctly and actually needs the medication, they have to weigh the benefits and risks to make the decision to continue the medication. In my case I reduced my dosage and discontinued 4 weeks prior to delivery. The stress from not taking the medication is actually worse for the baby than taking it during the pregnancy. If you knew anything about this disorder and the medication used to treat it you would know that a person that actually has ADD and takes adderall does not get a euphoric feeling from the medication nor do they "speed". It actually calms them down to allow them to focus and accomplish tasks. Just because it happens to be an amphetamine and she needs it because of her condition does not make her a drug addict. I myself have stopped my medication at various times for extended periods and had no withdrawl symptoms nor did I have the feeling that I just had to have it. My work performance and ability to concentrate was diminished but that is because of the ADD, that's what happens when you actually have it. Because of the comments you made and the comment you made later stating that you were worried about your own adderall consumption leads me to believe that you may be the one who is abusing the drug, because if you actually lived with having ADD you would understand and be sympathic to her situation instead of attacking her. For the record my baby was born without complications, she has no developmental issues, she experienced no withdrawl symptoms or insomnia, she is perfect. I am back on my adderall and feel no guilt for continuing it during my pregnancy. I suffer from this disorder and think that people who criticize others for taking the medication suffer from ignorance and have no right to judge others. For the record I don't see people criticizing expecting mothers that take antidepressants during pregnancy, and studies have shown that those medications actually are more dangerous for the baby and cause more birth defects than those reported to have been caused by consumption of adderall during pregnancy. Do the research before you post comments like the ones you made.

Rachael

1/18/12 12:57am

What is wrong with you ?!? I pray you do not have children. I could not imagine a sweet baby burdened with your heartless, rude, evil ass as it's parent. Take your negativity and judgmental ways to church!!!! Women are coming to these sites looking for help, answers, and those who have experience in these situations and you blast away like that?!? Silence your hateful, horrid self! You didnt answer her question in any form nor fashion. I am a college student and I personally have to decide if taking adderall outweighs the risks because I am currently falling behind in all of my legal classes due to not taking my adderall. I've found several articles where mothers have taken their adderall throughout their pregnancies and birthed wonderful, happy, healthy babies that can pee, poop, see, and think just fine. 'if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all'

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide

2/28/08 8:46pm

Erin,

I was not able to find any studies regarding taking Adderall while pregnant. Although I understand some of the concerns would be with low birth weight or premature birth, both of which you do not seem to be experiencing.

I am sorry that I really do not have much information to provide you with. I am glad that you have been under the care of a doctor and they are monitoring the growth of your child. I can't imagine a child that big, my children were all born at under 7 pounds.

Good luck to you and please keep us posted.

Eileen

Terry Matlen, ACSW, Health Guide

2/29/08 11:50pm

Hi Erin,

It sounds like you have done all the right things to determine whether it's ok to continue your meds during your pregnancy. Typically, physicians will weigh the benefits vs the risks and it sounds like your doctor has made a decision based on that.

Dr. Patricia Quinn has written a bit on this topic. You might want to do a Google search or visit her website at http://www.addvance.com to see if she's addressed that question there.

Terry

Whitney

3/11/08 5:09pm

Well, I have to say I am a little relieved. I am 14 weeks pregnant with my second child and I take 30mg of Adderall Daily (20xr in am, 10ir in pm). I have been freaking out a little about the whole situation. I just decided to go back to college and classes have started. I don't know how I'll function without the meds. Everybody I had heard from said not to take it, but all the information I found said there was neither positive or negative feedback because they haven't studied it in humans. Everything also said that the biggest risk was in the 1st trimester, which I am no longer in. Now, in addition to your story, I have read of 4 other women that have used Adderall in 30+mg per day and have had healthy pregnancies and children. One woman said she had high blood pressure, but her baby was perfectly healthy. Ahhh, what a relief. Thank you.

5/24/08 3:36am

Your story pretty much goes hand in hand with mine. I'm 22 years old, and I have been taking my prescription of adderall xr for most of my pregnancy. I took it every day for the first month of my pregnancy (before I knew I was pregnant), but then I stopped taking it for the rest of my first trimester because I experianced horrible "all day" sickness. Durring those 8 weeks I was miserable; I am allergic to Tylonal so I had nothing to sooth the constant headaches and motion sickness I faced as a result of the pregnancy and the absence of adderall. Once my morning sickness and first trimester passed I was eager to start taking my adderall again. I am halfway along right now and I feel great. My doctor says my growth is right on track and my blood pressure and heart rate are in perfect shape. My only worry now is post pregnancy. I plan to breast feed, and I do not want to take my adderall while nursing. As of now,I take adderall to stay focused on priorities and to help improve my forgetfulness... I worry how adding the responsibility of caring for a new born will enhance or complicate my behaviors.

melissa

12/ 5/09 10:06pm

How did your child turn out?? please email me at melissajoy2431@hotmail.com..I take adderall and am pregnant..please respond

my name is melissa

Melissa

1/ 9/10 9:26am

This is Melissa Again and I am now 18 weeks pregnant. I HAVE HEARD NO RESPONSE FROM ANYONE ON HOW THEIR CHILDREN TURNED OUT ALTHOUGH THEY SAID THEIR PREGNANCY'S WENT WELL. MAYBE IF I TYPE IN CAPITAL LETTERS THEN SOMEONE WILL NOTICE. ANYWAY, I DID NOT KNOW I WAS PREGNANT FOR THE FIRST 7 WEEKS, AFTER THAT POINT I KNEW THE BABY'S CONDITION COULD NOT BE TOO GOOD BECAUSE I WAS SMOKING,DRINKING ON OCCASION AND TAKING ADDERALL EVERY DAY FOR SURE. AT LEAST 30 MG A DAY. I WAS RAPED AND CONSIDERED ABORTION BECAUSE IT WAS SUGGESTED AND I KNEW I WAS NOT TAKING AS GOOD OF CARE OF MY SELF AS I COULD HAVE BEEN. ANYWAYS, I DO NOT BELIEVE ABOORTION IS RIGHT EVEN BASED ON CIRCUMSTANCES SO I KEPT THE BABY. I WOULD LIKE A GOOD REPORT ON THE CHILDS DEVELOPMENT AFTER BIRTH, OUT SIDE OF THE WOMB. LIKE CAN THEY WALK, TALK, SIT UP ON THEIR OWN. DO THEY LOOK AND ACT NORMAL? YOU CAN ONLY LEARN SO MUCH DURING PREGNANCY. EVEN RETARDED CHILDREN HAVE A HEART BEAT! SO I WOULD NOT GO OFF OF THE RELIEF OF IT'S STILL ALIVE. WHAT ABOUT IT'S BRAIN? HOW DID THAT DEVELOP ON ADDERALL? WAS THE BLOOD FLOW CONSTRICTED TO THE FETUS BECAUSE OF THE MEDICATION? I WISH SOMEONE WHO KNEW SOMETHING OR AT LEAST HAS HAD FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE SINCE NO STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE WOULD RESPOND OTHER WISE WHEN MY BABY IS BORN I WILL TO TOTALLY HONEST AND POST ALL SORTS OF PICTURES AND TELL MY STORY SO SOME OTHER PERSON COULD EITHER RECEIVE SOME SORT OF COMFORT OR A HUGE DANGER WARNING SIGN. EITHER WAY MY CHILD WILL BE A TESTIMONY EVEN IF I'M THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD ONLINE WHO ACTUALLY SHARED THE WHOLE STORY AND DID NOT SUGAR COAT THE TRUTH. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANSWERS FOR ME PLEASE EMAIL ME AT melissajoy2431@hotmail.com.

thank you!

p.s i stopped taking adderall at 9 weeks completely

plus i think it's crap that we are suggested not to give out personal information because it's made public. how do i know some phoney from the pharmacy company was not paid to say they had a normal baby while on adderall? MOney is a wicked thing and will make people do crazy things! so I want to talk to a real person even if by email and i want to know their story! to be a so called test experiment since they are only done in animals! aren't we better than animals? the meds are handed out like candy but the brutal honest truth about effects are swept under the rug! Medicine should not be poisen! but in reality it is. it doesn't make any sense like we've been cautioned as children stay away from poisen but thats just what these meds are! our organs and liver especially cannot filter it all out and it causes our bodies to wear out alot quicker because of the stress put on them. medicine that will kill you! oh yeah, i want that.....whatever. i'm just getting mad.

melissajoy@hotmail.com

1/ 9/10 10:24am

your baby should be born by now and I'm wondering how it turned out? is it normal? please let me know. send some pictures. you seemed confident about taking adderall during your pregnancy and i hope you can give some advice. not that Ihope your baby is retarded or something but if it is i hope you would be honest and tell me not to think it's ok myself to take during pregnancy. please reply

melissajoy@hotmail.com

1/ 9/10 10:35am

you are probably crazy busy with a new baby but if you could post some pictures or let the world know how your baby turned out please do. or at least let me know melissajoy@hotmail.com. i take adderall and want to know how the effects on the baby will be.

Whitney

1/10/10 12:57pm

I already responded to this comment by email, but I wanted to post on here as well.

I was taking Adderall until I was 28 weeks pregnant. I stopped bc I was just feeling too guilty about taking amphetamines during my pregnancy. I did find some great natural alternatives the really helped a lot. It wasn't the same as Adderall, it took a couple weeks to build up in my system and work well, but it has been working so well that I never went back on Adderall after I had my son. You CANNOT take Adderall when you are nursing so I was worried about that as well.

Hopefully to put your mind at ease I will say that even though I took the Adderall for the first 28 weeks of my pregnancy, my son was born PERFECT. I was induced at 39 weeks, had an 8 hour delivery and ended up with a perfectly healthy baby boy. He was a little jaundice for about a week, but that was attributed to my 39 week induction. He also has a bit weaker immune system than my older son, but that could possibly be heredity from his father. At birth he was 7lbs 3oz, his APGAR scores were 9 at 1 minute and 10 at 5 minutes. He has no problems latching on and eating, all of his tests were great, everything was great.

He is now 16 months old and still perfect. He is on the small side, keeping in stride with how his daddy was as a baby. It has had some problems fighting off colds this winter, he has had 3, but no flu and no flu shot. Honestly, I cannot see any effect that the Adderall could have had on his development. You have to understand that everyone is different. There is no way to assure you that your child will not be born with some developmental delay or birth defect.

Honestly, I would recommend that you start weaning yourself off of your medication and maybe try treating naturally just to be safe. If you are planning on nursing you HAVE to stop taking it bc the medication will absolutely get into your milk and have a stimulant effect on your baby.

If you are interested in information on what I did to treat I will be happy to share.

I also wanted to give you a heads up on something that I experienced that may or may not be related to the Adderall. I have no history of depression or any other problems with postpartum depression at all. However, after Daiden was 6 weeks old I started having some depressive symptoms. It developed into postpartum psychosis, complete with hallucinations and delusions, that lasted for 6 months.

Just be careful. If you decide to stop the meds, do it right, wean off of them gradually. If you decide to continue the meds then don't breast feed and just be aware that just bc I didn't have any problems with my son doesn't insure that your child will be fine.

Here are some photos of him. he has hit all of his milestones perfectly, he knows sign language and is learning to speak now too. Right on schedule.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/4084167777_64c37fb65f_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4084167279_61642d7447_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/3970264310_0b27d4aec6_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/3938288394_43f86aca90_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3860599174_5cceb2a724_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4084168063_67bc36cc97_o.jpg

melissajoy@hotmail.com

1/10/10 3:37pm

Oh My Goodness!!! Praise God :) Thank you so much for your response!!! WOW. What an amazing person you are and you have such a wonderful Baby Boy too! I"m so excited about your response. I had a serious problem with adderall for 10 years and when I found out i was pregnant I really freaked out. I know I was taking more than I should be taking and the first 9 weeks I was so scared I harmed by baby. YOu are such a great woman and I apologize if I came across as condeming in any sort of way. The truth is I was so scared. I"m half way through my pregnancy and so far it looks good but I was and still am a little worried about those beginning weeks. I really appreciate your response and the time you took to send pictures :)

Thanks Whitney!

Whitney

1/10/10 6:34pm

No problem, happy to help!

Anonymous

2/ 1/10 3:11pm

I would like to know what you are doing naturally to treat ADD/ADHD during pregnancy?

Please e-mail me @ kristyglanton@gmail.com.

THANKS!!!

lis

7/ 1/10 3:37pm

judging by your reactions i would say that you need to go back on your meds.

i am 10 weeks pregnant nd stopped adderall after my first 4 weeks,

im suffering badly with mood dswings depression, anxiety all the things i had before i was on adderall.

i want to go back on it because im scared i am going to go inthat hole again

lis

Margaret Mattox

10/ 2/10 4:17pm

Whitney - Congrats to you and your family. I would really appreciate the natural alternatives you used.... especially since you said they were quite helpful. Please email me at your convenience.

Thanks so much!

Reston

restonmattox@gmail.com

amanda34

10/21/10 11:44pm

i took adderall 30mg a day my whole pregnancy my son is 2 years old he was sitting up and crawling at 6 months walking at 10 months he looks fine he talks he does everything my 3 year old can do i have 4 children ages 13,5,3,2 i didnt take adderall with my first 3 they weighed 8lb 9oz / 8lbs 12oz/ 7lbs 6oz and no health problems besides my 5 yr old is over weight. my lil boy was 6lbs he always gets sick with runny nose and a cough and im sure him being born small was due to me taking adderall as far as him being sick alot im not sure cause my girls get like that alot to

alitlmonkee

10/26/10 10:50am

I see that your post was quite some time ago, but having recently found out I am pregnant with my second child, I am again surfing the web for some guidance.

My first daughter is now almost 11 month old who is healthy, very intelligent-ahead on many milestones- and quite beautiful if I do say so myself. I was on Vyvanse (a medication in the adderall family-lisdexamfetamine dimesylate-during the early part of my pregnancy, about 4 weeks until I found out I was pregnant. I did research and found out that the biggest concern medically was during the first trimester for heart and spinal abnormalities. I did not take it for the remainder of my first trimester, but did resume once I reached 13 weeks. I went on Adderall XR for the rest of my pregnancy. I was also on Wellbutrin XR because I suffered from severe depression. Wellbutrin is in the same class of medications (C, I think) as Adderall. During my pregnancy I saw specialists that work with high-risk mothers who monitored her development. My psychiatrist felt that the benefits of me being on the medications outweighed the risks to my baby. As is turns out, they were right.

That being said, my daughter was born full-term, healthy and normally.

Unfortunately there are many women whose "normal" is not the traditional normal. I have had friends who have gone off their medications and subsequently gone off the deep end during pregnancy and some who have done fine without. I have had friends who NEEDED medication but were too afraid to take it and suffered through what may have been a much happier time for them and their developing babies. I have known girls who did street drugs during pregnancy (WHICH I DO NOT ADVOCATE BY ANY MEANS) and had healthy babies and friends who were too afraid to even take a tylenol and their babies were born early and not in the best health.

Something I also considered is that over the past hundred years, medical opinion has changed dramatically (to say the least). Doctors used to prescribe opiates to babies and children, people thought smoking was good for you and cocaine was used to treat psychiatric patients (these days it more commonly creates them). Homosexuals and alcoholics were considered hopeless deviants and institutionalized. Medical advances are made every day, and many are contradictory.

I am not saying do or do not take your medications. I am not a doctor. But when it comes to decisions like these I do my homework and consult professionals, because after all, they do know best. It may be in a person's best interest to consult with several doctors (if possible) because in the end, each doctor's opinion is shaped by their personal belief systems and experiences as well. The ultimate decision is up to you, but I have found it to be best to ask around.

Stacy

11/ 8/10 6:03pm

DO NOT take adderall while pregnant !!!

Studies have shown deformities when studies with rodents...Brain disorders with babies.. you think you can't function now try giving birth to a baby with serious brain disorders and knowing that you could have done something to stop it !!!

don't wait until your pregnant to stop taking the drug start months before hand!

Amanda

11/19/10 6:16pm

Can you please tell me what natural alternatives you took to help you focus? I looked at Focus Factor but it has high levels of iron which you are not supposed to take during pregnancy. I am not pregnant now but I hope to be soon and I am on 10mg of Adderall.

Thanks, Amanda

KNMC

11/27/10 12:54pm

what natural treatments did you do instead of adderall?

shayne

1/24/11 11:44pm

I was just curious as to what natural alternatives you used instead of adderall?

Breana

5/ 4/11 12:48am

Don't go back on the Meds yet.... I have SEVERE ADHD and after about 20 weeks my body was my medication it was the coolest thing.

Tara

6/11/11 10:08am

Wow melissa. For being a woman in the same boat as so many here, taking adderol while pregnant, you sure had some strong opinions. Did it ever occur to you that the feelings these women are having are exactly what you were going thru? But instead of embracing the comfort of fellow women in a similiar predicament, you got up on some imaginary high horse and chose to look down at every single one of these women that were reaching out for help in time of need and stress. The fact that they are trying to educate themselves and find the right answers never occured to you? Or is it the safety of hiding behind a computer screen to launch your vicious attacks? Have you ever heard the word hypocrite? You should look it up.

gina

1/13/12 11:03pm

i am 32 weeks and want to stop taking my addarell befor the baby is born i was wondering what was the name of the natural medication you took that helped your ADD i want to stay off it even after baby is born from what you said it seemed to work for you please emai me back at gina8657@gmail.com anyone else no anything email me pleae

Mom2Two0710

2/ 3/12 9:56am

I have taken 20 mg of Adderall a day through two pregnancies and while breastfeeding two children until they were each two and a half years old. They are perfectly healthy. My doctor said there have only been two studies of breastfeeding mothers taking Adderall and they were relatively small but of sixty mothers and babies not a single one exibited any symptoms of the drug being passed to them. My children didn't either. Everything I have heard and read has said breastfeeding while taking Adderall is MORE safe than taking Adderall while pregnant.

Anonymous

6/17/08 6:12pm

Listen, I have ADHD. My psychiatrist that tested me for it said I am in the 97% meaning that only 3% of people who have ADD have a worse case than I do. However, before I even got pregnant I got off the adderall. I NEVER took it while I was pregnant, NEVER and am still not taking it since I am breastfeeding. Sure, for maybe a week or two while you're getting off of it you may feel really tired and unfocused. You may feel unfocused the whole time your pregnant. Who cares! Most likely after a couple of weeks you will feel better than you've ever felt before. The reason you feel so tired and lethargic when quitting the adderall is because your having withdrawals. Get past the withdrawals and you'll feel awesome (albeit slightly unfocused). You went 40 years without taking adderall, certainly going 9 months without taking it while you are pregnant will not be a problem. Continuing to take it is a VERY, VERY, VERY bad idea. You are not doing what is best for your child. Don't have a child if you aren't prepared to do what's best for them. Sacrafice your productitivity and focus if you have to. Think about it. Adderall is an amphetamine! You are taking speed, while you are pregnant. You might as well start doing meth and crack! If anything is wrong with your child how could you ever live with yourself? If I can quit taking it ANYONE can. The only reason you wont quit taking it is because you don't want to...that's being selfish.

Also, I have another friend who has gotten pregnant twice while on adderall. Her doctor instructed her that as soon as you find out your pregnant, if you don't quit the adderall cold turkey then at least immediately start to tapper off of it and try to be off of it completely within a week of finding out (aka about 5 - 6 weeks pregnant).

vanessa

6/17/08 8:57pm

Wow! Maybe you could temper your condemnation with a little compassion and reason.

The poster is continuing to take Adderal at the instruction of her doctors. If you are not a medical professional, how can you say that they are wrong? I understand that you feel strongly about the subject and that advice was solicited but it would be a lot more constructive and humane to be more respectful and understanding with your comments.

I, myself, am trying to conceive and have ADHD. I have not yet started taking my Adderall because I was concerned about the possible negative impact on my chances of conceiving.

I am very interested to hear that some doctors are deciding to keep pregnant patients on their meds. I will be asking my doctors what they advise me to do.

6/18/08 3:26pm

I was not able to conceive while taking adderall. We tried for over a year. I even took clomid and my OB would have me come into her office on the 21st day of my cycle to see if I had ovulated (by checking my progestrone levels). My progesterone levels indicated that I had ovulated, but every month I never was pregnant. I decided to stop taking the adderall and see if that would help. What do you know I ended up pregnant that month. I miscarried at 7 weeks, but never did get back on the adderall. The first cycle, trying to conceive, after my miscarriage I was pregnant again. I now have a healthy 4 month old little girl. (I did not take any adderall throughout my entire pregnancy.) I know that what kept me from getting pregnant all those months was the adderall. It was not a coincidence.

I told a friend of mine who had been trying for over two years. She stopped taking her adderall immediately and that cycle she got pregnant too.

Some people do get pregnant while taking adderall, however, if you're having trouble conceiving and you're taking adderall stop taking it and see if it helps.

Bertha66

6/19/08 3:09am

I am sure you have the absolute worst case of ADHD ever recorded and I'm certain the view from your moral highground is absolutely breathtaking. I only reply for the benefit of others who now may be beating themselves up after reading your "holier than thou" proclamation.

Yes, I took Adderall during my pregnancy (GASP). And I delivered an 8lb 12oz perfectly healthy beautiful baby girl in March. (As an aside, I had 4 miscarriages before I ever took Adderall... so perhaps if I apply some homegrown convoluted reasoning, Adderall actually allowed me to carry this baby to term!) I stopped taking it from the time I delivered until about 3 weeks ago. I felt so rotten that eventually I just decided to take it again since MY PSYCHIATRIST (as well as my high risk OB, the nursing specialist affiliated with my OB/GYN and my pediatrician who is also a neonatologist) gave the OK. My daughter is thriving. She sleeps 9 hrs at night (15-16 hrs/day total) and plays/smiles/babbles like any other healthy 3 month old. Once in a while she spits up and she often sucks on her two middle fingers... that must be the evidence of her crack addiction (you know... Adderall, Crack, same difference).

Here's the moral of the story: Don't let a pompous hysterical freak decide what is best for you. Discuss it with your own Drs and make an educated decision that is right for you. There are a LOT of really stupid judgemental bullies out there. I'm just glad she decided to unload on me and not someone who may take anything she had to say to heart.

And to "anonymous" herself: you better find the "grey" in your black and white world if you hope to be any kind of parent.

Anonymous

6/20/08 11:39am

Funny, you put a post out there on the world wide web and you solicit responses, then get angry with people for giving your their honest response.

First of all, let me just say that I am so glad to hear that your daughter is here and she seems to be a happy and healthy baby. Seriously, I may have come off in my previous email as harsh, but I really am happy that your child seems to be okay.

My problem is that I don't want other people reading these post of people saying that they took adderall throughout their pregnancy and then thinking "oh, these people did it...I'll do it too" just because one person puts a follow-up post out there and says that their child appears to be fine. This is just not a good message to put out there.

I'm sorry, but I really just don't believe that your doctor instructed you to take adderall throughout your pregnancy. Here's why: (1) doctors don't do this because if they did and something was wrong with your child because of it then you can sue them for millions. (2) Adderall is not one of those necessity drugs. For example, if you are prone to having seizures so you take an anti-seizure medication then your doctor may recommend that you keep taking it, while pregnant, because the benefit (of you not having a seizure) outweighs the risk to the baby if you were to have a seizure (while pregnant). Adderall is not like this...the benefits do not outweigh the risk to the baby. (3) At the time you found out you were pregnant you would only have been taking the adderall for 3 or 4 months, so clearly not long enough that you couldn't possibly get off of it. (4) Also, another thing to add to the mix is that at the time you posted this message you've been taking adderall for a year and you are already taking 60mg a day. That floors me! That is an insane amount of adderall. I've never heard of anybody taking that much so I tend to think that you could possibly be abusing your use of it and perhaps you are taking it for weight loss or something else.

If however, your doctor did convince you to take adderall while pregnant then I appologize and I feel sorry for you and I think you should find a new doctor.

Attention - Don't read on if you have already taken adderall throughout your entire pregnancy because this will probably only make you mad.

Another reason not to take it while pregnant (for people that may be thinking about doing it) is that, Erin, you seem to be kind of beating yourself up about it. For the rest of your life you may continue to beat yourself up about it. If anything is ever wrong with your child your first thought may be "is this because I took adderall during my pregnancy?" I would imagine that that would be the most guilt you would ever carry. It's not worth it! Adderall is not worth that guilt that you may carry for the rest of your life. Do yourself a favor; if you don't take it then you would have nothing to feel guilty about. If, God forbid, anything was ever wrong with your child you could rest easy knowing that you did nothing to cause it. There are enough worries while you're pregnant and while raising a child without adding something else to the mix for you to be worried about.

I hope I'm wrong, but my fear is that twenty years from now you could gather together all the children whos mother's took adderall while pregnant and you could find a common denominator. If so, hopefully it would only be something small like they have ADD too, or they have poor conduct in school. I pray that it wouldn't be anything serious like an enlarged heart, cancer, autism, etc. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, but I fear that it could be the case. Don't take any chances with your child.

If my messages have convinced even one person (that was thinking about taking adderall during pregnancy) to not take it; then I feel I've done my job.

Carmella's Mommy =)

6/24/08 8:42am

I am very sad to hear that someone is so "appalled" by my choice to stay on my prescribed treatment for ADHD, but for those of you who are debating the idea, here's a progress report: I am now 24 weeks into my pregnancy. I take 30 mgs off Adderall XR a day (15 in morning and 15 around 2). I am having a baby girl who is already the most beautiful baby on Earth (I have the ultrasound pics to prooove it). everything in my pregancy has been 100% perfect since my first trimester *wheb I discontinued my doseage as instructed by my doctor. I have not had any problems with blood pressure, my babies heart rate has been right around 145 bpm (which is just right) and I am pretty sure that the 20 pounds I have gained thus far are keeping my little girl very happy and nurished. =) Please keep in mind that Adderall is considered a narcotic; it would be unethical to ever test the health of a growing fetus simply for the sake of science; therefore, there will never be a absolute do or don't answer. For me, a 22 year old (not 40 as assumed by a previous poster), I lead a excessively busy enough life where I am working off the adderall I consume and I am very careful not to over or underdose to keep my body in the habbit of expecting the medication and knowing what to do with it. Bottom line, I am satisfied with my decision, and so is my doctor.

Anonymous

7/ 2/08 12:15pm

I want to share my experience. I took 40 mg. of Adderrall daily before my pregnancy. When I found out I was pregnant, under the advice of my OB/GYN, counselor and psychiatrist I stopped taking the medication.

For the trimester I took no medications and I was absolutly miserable. I could barely function and was extremely stressed out. During the second semester all of my doctors recommended I take Prozac (it seems to be one of the safest anti-depressants to take during pregnancy).

I followed all of the doctors advice but I was having problems functioning on a daily basis.

When I was 24 weeks pregnant I was FIRED FROM MY JOB for lack of production. This led to more depression and has been extremely stressful on me. Luckily, my husband is supportive but I have no idea what I would do without him.

In my opinion, you should do what you have to do to keep yourself healthy and functioning. Stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise (all of which can occur if you stop taking your ADHD mediation) can be JUST AS BAD for your developing baby.

If you don't keep yourself healthy (mentally and physically) how are you going to take good care of your baby?

NG (Carmella's Mommy)

7/ 6/08 11:43pm

I am very sorry to hear about your situation. I wish things could have been different for you. I must admit, reading your situation is almost too close for comfort for me. when I first started writing on this little forum, I was right at the end of my first trimester and feeling much like how you were feeling when you were prescribed to prozac. I decided that I wanted to do whatever it took to be strong and healthy for my little one. I graduated from college this may, and although I didn't loose my job, a big part of me resents that I will not be able to get my first teaching job this fall because of my pregnancy, but I think both you and I need to just remember that these are just the first of many changes and sacrifices that we will face as mothers. I hope things get better for you =)

Anonymous

7/16/08 3:15pm

Thank you. We are just trying to do what is best for our babies, ourselves and our families. I hope one day the docs can find a good solution for adhd/depression during pregnancy but until then, we will just have to hang in there and deal with it the best we can. Good luck to you!!!!

nataly

11/10/08 7:09pm

Just to let anyone who may read this thread in the future... I've written on this little forum a few times throughout my pregnancy. I took Adderall XR throughout my 2nd and 3rd trimesters of my pregnancy. I delivered a PERFECT, HEALTHY 7 lb 10oz little girl 4 weeks ago. She has quite a short attention span, but the Docs promise me that this is normal for a newborn =) I am very comfortable with my choice to stay on Adderall and I truly feel it is what I needed to stay healthy and smart throughout my pregnancy. So my advice: Do what you feel is best for you and your baby!

NG (Carmella's Mommy)

11/10/08 7:13pm

Anonymous

4/17/09 11:53am

I just wanted to share my story. I was 6 weeks pregnant when I found out. It was not planned but there was no way that we were not going to proceed with the pregnancy. I discussed it with my Doctors and decided to continue taking meds. xr 40mgs/day. I did lots of research online and couldn't find any real just cause as to why I shouldn't continue taking my meds. If I could go back in time I would.

My Son just turned a year old. He had his 1st surgery at 3 months. To correct breathing and feeding difficulties.

He has lost half of his hearing. He had surgery to correct leaking veins in his left eye. Now it is capable of perfect vision. He will have his 4th surgery on his right eye next week. We are trying to keep him from going blind.

He has a rare seizure disorder and we just recently found out he has an abnormal brain. He is not capable of retaining information and he barely uses the right side of his brain. He does not roll over, sit on his own, reach for toys. Dr's do not know if he will ever crawl walk or talk because there is nobody else like him.

They cannot find any reason that any of this has happened to him. None of this runs in either of our families. If you can stand to be off the medication take my advice and do it because if by some chance something like this happens to you, you will kick yourself for the rest of your life wondering what if.

I know how old this post is and am not sure if anyone will even read this. But if you do and you continued to take your meds throughout your pregnancy are your kids still doing okay?

*Psshhht & other derisive noises*

4/27/09 12:14pm

I am 28 yrs old & 24 wks into my first pregnancy. I am on 60mg of Adderall a day. It is prescribed to me by my OB/GYN. I have been on it since I was 17. We've had all the diagnostic testting done & guess what? Baby is great, no heart probs, no HTN, brain development right on track. You shouldn't try to say what Doc's "Don't do" or "Shouldn't do". You're not the one that graduated from medical school now are you?
And as to your statement: "(4) You are already taking 60mg a day. That floors me! That is an insane amount of adderall. I've never heard of anybody taking that much so I tend to think that you could possibly be abusing your use of it and perhaps you are taking it for weight loss or something else."
Wrong again huh? you've "never" heard of anyone taking that much, now you've heard from at least 2 people in a relatively obscure forum, so I guess your millions of in depth case studies gave you some sort of misplaced feeling that you were some sort of expert. Yeesh. You're probably one of those people that watch CSI & think you could really go out & solve a murder. Having my teeth drilled doesn't make me a dentist & having ADD doesn't make you a doctor.

rya

4/29/09 9:07pm

My OBGYN just recommended and approved taking a low dosage of adderall, for a variety of reasons.. not just because I'm tired or feeling out of focus. the bottom line with most medications is that it's considered on a per person basis and if the benefits outweigh the risk, Dr's will in fact allow it, recommend it and prescribe it. I know this for a fact since it's the exact words my Dr just used at my last 18 week check up. However taking it isn't something I'm doing lightly. In fact, I'm extremely cautious about it and am treading carfeully in unknown terrain.. and while I'm happy to hear that you were able to not utilize it while pregnant, I'm just as relieved to hear that the original poster did in fact take it, and had not only a healthy pregnancy but now a healthy child. It's good to hear both sides, as well as to take the advice of the Dr... and from there form a personal and educated decision. There is no right or wrong, since all RX's are based on the individual. What's right for one person may not be right for another, we should show respect to everyone despite having varying experiences or beliefs.

Bertha66

4/29/09 11:07pm

Hi,

I'm so very sorry for what you and your son are going through. Truly. I cannot even imagine how difficult it has been for you. I'm only responding out of a sense of compassion for you... that said, my daughter was born last March perfectly healthy, 8 lbs 13 oz. She turned 1 last month and continues to be a normal healthy toddler in every way. I stopped taking my meds while nursing for some reason (the Dr continued to say it was fine to take them) and then I ended up starting again when she was about 6 or 7 mos old. She nursed until she was 8.5 mos. She remains healthy and "normal" in every way: talking, walking, sleeping (she has always been a great sleeper), knows her body parts, plays peek-a-boo, knows how to lock the keypads of our phones and we don't even know how to do that.

I'm laying all of this out there because you need to forgive yourself. It is not your fault that your son is sick.

It is not your fault.

You followed your Dr's advice and your Dr followed the indications of the published studies on the issue. There is no evidence of a causal relationship between your meds and your sons condition. Sometimes kids are just born sick and it's nobody's fault.

I have had at least 3 (and probably more like 5 or 6) miscarriages. I took Adderall XR only during my final pregnancy and I didn't have a miscarriage. I could just as easily say that the meds were the reason I didn't have a miscarriage this time. But it's not the case. The other babies that started to grow may have looked very healthy on an ultrasound at 10 weeks but something was wrong. They were sick... too sick to be born. And that was not from ADHD medication.

It is a coincidence and nothing more. Don't give it the power to allow you to live with recriminations and self-loathing. You are a good mother who loves her son. I am a good mother who loves my daughter. We don't love our children less than people who stopped taking their medication. You didn't do anything wrong. You are not the cause of your son's illness.

Love him with peace in your heart. I will pray for you both.

Erin

Carmella's Mommy

5/ 4/09 8:57pm

Hi ladies. I am really happy that we have all shared our stories. Since there hasn't been, and (according to my doc) there never will be, any FDA approved studies on taking Adderall during pregnancy, it is really great that so many of us are sharing our stories for women who may be going through the same dilemmas as we were/are in the future.

I have been updating this forum since I was a few weeks pregnant, and now my daughter is almost 7 months old. I take 15mg of Adderall XR 2 times a day. (I split the dosage rather than upping it during my pregnancy, when I felt I was losing affect after about 4-6 hours of the 12 hour time release.)

Right now I am watching my daughter jump around in her little “Exersaucer,” and she is babbling and sucking on a cold teething ring we just took out of the fridge. Haha, in other words, she is absolutely perfect. I am a very petite girl (not even 5’1) and her father isn’t the world’s biggest guy either, and At her 6 month, Carmella was still taller and slightly heavier than either of us were at our 6 month check up. My biggest worry was that she would not develop correctly or as quickly as other children, but I still have not come across any red flags.

I just wanted to give you all an update.

God Bless, and remember; it’s what’s best for you and your child, and only you can make that decision.

Carmella's Mommy

5/ 4/09 8:59pm

I just wanted to give you all an update.

God Bless, and remember; it’s what’s best for you and your child, and only you can make that decision.

Brittani

5/ 8/09 11:01am

You obviously dont have the worst condition of adhd like you claim. Even though this lady just got diagnosed she is now able to deal with life in a normal way. The benifits and costs could be very high to stop taking your meds for one what if she now has a job that she needs full attention and stops taking her meds and loses her job because she forgot to do this or that. If you had adhd as bad as you claim you would have more symathy. I am 11 weeks pregnant and my doctor told me to take half of my dose i plan to finish college and make a life for me and my baby i dont think that is being very selfish at all i think being selfish would be by stoping my meds compeltly and dropping out of college because there is no question i would not complete it the only reason i graduated high school was because i got diagnosed my senior year.. so i think your an inconsiderate person who obviously has a very low type of adhd. Because if you werent you would know what its like to not be normal and to not beable to complete the tast that normal people can complete on there own. that is not possible for me what so ever and its not a little off focus i have no focus. with out my meds my life would be a complete disaster and was befor i got diagnosed. and adderall is an amphetamine but it is not like crack or meth. it is made by doctors not some random putting terrible terrible chemicals like bleach and gas and what ever else is found in meth and handing it out to people to cure adhd are you cracked my dear?

ADHDlifer

5/26/09 3:11pm

I'm 25 and have had one of the worst cases of ADHD my entire life, believe me my parents can tell you horror stories, lol. I've been tested and played the medicine game until I was 13 when my doctor put me on Adderall (generic). I've been using it for ADHD off and on for 12 years. My husband and I are now trying to conceive and are hoping soon to find out that I'm pregnant. Even though my husband can't stand me being on the stuff, he knows that I have to in order to function and stay focused at work and home. Even when I get pregnant I plan to stay on Adderall, and my doctors know this. I believe that as long as the mother to be and the doctor keep track over what is going on during the pregnancy and the baby is ok I don't think its a problem. Granted I've been on this so long its permenantly in my system I think, lol. But its up to the mother to decide. If we can't focus and do what is necessary during our pregnancy if we're off our meds how can we be good mothers after we deliver? I think I would rather take the risk in order to be a good mom to my baby when the time comes. Don't get me wrong. No body should ever take anything like adderall unless its observed by doctors. but you know your body better than the doctor, do what you think is best.

Cerebro.

6/27/09 9:51am

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

I have been on Adderall for almost a decade now, and about 4 years ago I became pregnant. I had the same argument with my psychiatrist about weighing the risks to the benefits.. she said ABSOLUTELY NO WAY, for all of the reasons you stated above. I was pissed. But looking back on things, I know now that I was being selfish and was completely ignorant to believe that it would be safe for my baby, and if something was to go wrong with my pregnancy, or the baby.. I would be blaming myself for the rest of my life.

So, being the ignorant, stubborn 24 year old that I was... I continued to take it anyways. And how some would ask? I told my psych that I miscarried, she wanted proof with a urine analysis. I started to get anxious because I hadn't thought about that, then I started worrying that if she was going through all this trouble to make sure I wasn't prego anymore, then there must be a real good reason for it. I had been taking the Adderall the whole 7 weeks I was pregnant, and was now beginning to realize the harm I was doing. So after much deliberation, I decided I was going to terminate the pregnancy, but I still had to get that UA in to my psych. So I borrowed urine to pass, just to get my darn Adderall. (This is what happens when people don't take the medication seriously, and medical professionals are too lenient).

Well anyways, I never got the abortion because I ended up miscarrying after all. I know this is going to sound terrible, but I'm glad it happened. I was in such denial, I thought I knew all about the meds, and what they were and weren't capable of... but I was sadly mistaken. I have no doubt in my mind that that child would have ended up with autism, or something worse. I have an 8 year old that I never took any sort of medication with while preggo, and he was happy, healthy, and all around normal.. up until around 7 years old when my families notorious ADHD/austistic gene kicked in. Luckily, his symptoms are not nearly as bad as mine and my 2 brothers were. He just has a slight stutter, and minor focus and organizational issues.

Adderall really is extremely harmful, and is not studied in long term cases. I have noticed over the past year that my brain functioning is somewhat degenerating. And I have no doubt in my mind that it's the result of my long term use of Adderall. Unfortuanley, I have been taking it so long now, that I wouldn't be able to function properly without it because I have become accustomed to how it enables me to piece my thoughts together somewhat so simple things make sense to me, whereas they didn't while growing up, and I had not a clue how to even begin to make sense of anything.

I hope this helps at least one person to think twice about their actions, because I really do believe that all these medications that we are taking, and being allowed to take while pregnant are just continuing the cycle. It's amazing how many children now-a-days are being diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, bipolar, etc. It has to be linked to something us as parents are doing; what we are eating, the environment, our chemical makeup and genetics being altered by all our unhealthy habits, etc. Of course the rise in the cases are due to higher awareness, but that can't be the only explination.

PLEASE, FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY... DON'T BE IGNORANT AND TAKE HARMFUL SUBSTANCES WHILE PREGNANT. OUR KIDS ARE GETTING DUMBER AND DUMBER BY THE DAY, TAKE NOTICE AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND, DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS TREND. DO NOT ALWAYS TAKE THE ADVICE OF YOUR DOCTOR, THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, HALF THE TIME THEY DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THEY ARE PRESSURED INTO THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER BEGIN TO BELIEVE IF YOU ARE JUST AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN.

I am a health care professional, and was raised in the medical world. Things are not how they used to be. Believe me.

Use your brains, and think for yourselves... please.

Cerebro.

6/27/09 10:07am

You guys are insane, and in such DENIAL.

Doctors are not always right, and in many cases, they are completely wrong.

It doesn't take as much brains to get through medical school as one might think.

I most cases the doctor WILL say ABSOLUTELY NO WAY, because it is UNETHICAL, and they cannot afford to be sued and have that on their record. That was the case when I wanted to take my Adderall during my 2nd pregancy, and that is the case with every doctor, psychiatrist, healthcare professional, medical website, etc that I've inquired.

Stop making excuses, and stop making our children sick. Bottom line.

Cerebro.

6/27/09 10:41am

If your ADHD is so bad, and your life is so terrible without the meds... then why do you choose to procreate - especially knowing that there's an increased possibility of having a child who would have to struggle just as much, or more than you???

That right there is selfishness in itself.

I am not going to give any sympathy because I used to have the same type of mindframe as you. I was in the same type of situation as you. But I eventually grew a brain and started to FORCE myself think for MYSELF.

I am a high functioning autistic with ADHD and OCD...

So, I don't quite understand how those of you with just ADHD are having that hard of a time with life in general. I struggle day in and day out. My ADHD is terrible I admit, and I often wonder how much easier life would be if ADHD was the only thing I had going against me... I take my meds, but I know I could somewhat function without them, ESPECIALLY if I knew I was pregnant. I'd force myself... I'd go to CBT more often, I would figure out something.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES.

Bertha66

7/ 4/09 4:56am

ADHD, Autism, OCD and whatever other diagnoses you care to declare from the peak of Mt Cerebro are the least of your worries Sister Sledge. Your pompous self-righteousness is what I find appalling! Seriously, you should seek treament. You are more sanctimonious than a gay, adulterous, transgendered, cross-dressing, communist, Christian televangelist with gambing and porn addictions on the side.

Again, for the good of the world.... seek treatment for your REAL disability.

Cerebro.

7/ 4/09 10:31pm

Mt. Cerebro.. hmmm, thanks for the flattery.

Anyhoo. Go ahead and refer to me however you like; I know what I am, and what I'm not. But I will tell you this: My opinions are based soley on issues I've personally experienced. I've come to realize that a lot of people tend to do what they want in the long run, and the biggest factor as to why people post questions like these on the internet is because they are looking for others who will agree with them...

Why? Because it helps to ease their conscience, and aids in justification of their decision(s).

Anonymous

7/ 8/09 1:30pm

Straight up sista! I totally agree. For me the lack of energy and functionability is FAR riskier than taking the adderall. Without it (and I have tried) I can't cook for myself, (so nutrition is way down!) can't exercise at all, can't keep up with the house or take care of my other two kids (which both turned out fine despite my adderall use) I take about 5-7.5mg once a day. It's enough to remove the brain fog so that i can think clearly enough to make breakfast, get the kids dressed, what over them throughout the day, walk on the treadmill, read pregnancy related books, etc. Granted I'm still very tired several times a day and have to take at least 2 30-45 min naps to continue to function well enough to get by. What I'm worried about is breastfeeding. I haven't been able to breastfeed in the past due to inverted nips but found a way to fix that problem so now I'm wondering how i'm going to manage to do that without the adderall. i honestly don't see how it'll be possible. not sure what i'll do yet.

Anonymous

7/21/09 6:41pm

You're ignorant.

Anonymous

7/31/09 5:55pm

Amen Sister!!

April

8/ 2/09 12:54am

I am prescribed this much adderal as well, 60 mg per day, i also had known someone who took 75 mg per day plus concerta on top of that..

Since i have found i was pregnant (about 6 weeks along) i have not taken more than 10 mg a day, basically to wing off. i did this untill about week 8 of pregnancy. i am now 10 weeks, and when i go to class or have to study i take 5 mg.. i will probably not be taking it when summer classes are over (in about a week). I have quit taking this drug everytime i have gotten prego, doctors orders! This is my 6th baby, and i am 30 years old.

As far as withdrawl symptoms go..... i am sorry to disagree with you on this, but i have been taking adderal for years..i have been off and on them a dozen times, and i just want to say, you can be on these meds for a week and have withdrawl symptoms, no matter the dose!!

Anonymous

9/14/09 6:51pm

I was prescribed to 90mg of adderall a day, I found out i was pregnant at 6 weeks and i never stopped taking my meds until i found out i was pregnant. So I got pregnant on adderall so it is possible!..I have not taken ANY adderall since i found out i was pregnant, i am now 30 weeks!..I would NEVER EVER do that to my unborn child, its unhealthy for her and would be selfish of me. I want my baby to be healthy and taking that strong drug wouldnt do any good for her....Do whats best for your baby!!!!

Jodi

9/25/09 6:50pm

Very nicely said! I couldn't have said it better myself!!!

Jodi

9/25/09 7:04pm

BERTHA66- You are an amazing and intelligent woman. Your posts are perfectly stated. I can't tell you how nice it is to read your responses to some of these threads. It's like you took the words right out of my mouth! You go girl!!!

Anonymous

10/ 8/09 4:10pm

I am perscribed 120mg a day, 60mg a day is not an insane amount of Adderall! get your facts straight preacher!

Anonymous

10/31/09 10:31am

I also take 5-7.5 mg because I also need it to funciton. I am in nursing school, which is very hard and have 2 kids, including a 2 yr. old. I took adderall during that pregnancy to and he is completely fine. I do feel guilty but have to do what is best overall. judgemental people are just that, judgemental people. the animals studies have shown that it only causes problems when taken in extremly high doses. I'm glad to know I am not the only one who needs to take my med.

mommy2BE

11/ 1/09 4:52pm

(clap, clap, clap). I am so happy that you "have ADHD worse than most people" and yet have this amazing will power.

I found out I was pregnant a month ago and immediatly stopped my adderall and I have gone through the withdrawl. The issue is that now I can not focus at all. I can not hardly function. My house is a mess, my homework in college is getting behind and I am falling behind in work as well. ADHD is not something you can just "deal" with for 9 months. It affects how you act and what your able to do.

Will the baby benefit if I lose my job? Will the baby benefit in a messy house or a mother who dropped out of college?

I am happy that you can do just fine without the medicine. I am looking through posts because I have to call my doctor this week and ask to be put back on the adderall. I am seriously concerned for myself in regards to school and work. I am person who has amazing will-power as well.

I believe that you are being too harsh and especially using that tone/wording without a M.D. behind your name.

mommy2BE

11/ 1/09 5:04pm

I do not think the person is "abusing" by taking 60mg a day after a year.

My doctor started me at 30mg and I was on 60mg a day within a month.

That was an unfair statement to that person and you should apologize.

Secondly, you can take your child and all the other "anal retentive, uneducated" parents and one thing you will all have in common in 20 years is that your chldren will not only have ADHD from all the TV you allow them to watch but will also be pissed off and rude citizens just like mommy and daddy.

You do not have the education to "change" minds and you should not even try. Also, please do not make me write again when you post something like "I have a college degree ect ect ect". I will tell you right now, I mean your not a doctor or a professional in the area and study of ADHD.

This is a forum not a medical college course. This is to read about ideas or come up with questions for your doctor.

You should not try and convince anyone because in relaity every woman should be asking their doctor the questions and not taking the internets information for everything.

Your opinion and cult type change minds attitude is not needed.

Anonymous

12/ 4/09 9:44pm

I had been on Adderal for years and was recieveing it from a OB Physcitrist at Duke University. She took me off as quickly as possible. However see did say there are extreme cases where women lack the ability to even drive without becoming a danger to themselves or others. In rare cases low doses are in the what seems to be only alturnative. I was not one of them. There was alot of huge changes in my home. Including My husband doing the errands and driving we struggled but we have gotten through it. Adderall treats my ADD as well as other physcatric conditions. I take a veriety of medications. Fortunately I was sent to a fetal medicine doctor early on the other meds were continued and I was monitor closely. Even though my son was born at 36 weeks he was 8 pounds 2 ounces. My other two were 8 pounders too. He is now 4 monthes old and I breastfeed him. Yesterday my Dr decided since he is eating some solid foods and supplemented with formula That I start back on my Adderall. To be honest I am terrified and am trying to get as much info as possiable. The formula that he is supposed to supplemnt with is very expensive nuetragin whitch my oldest had to take as well is very expensive. My dr. says the small amount he could posibily get is not something that she is that worried about because the dose is a farely low dose 20mg. and he is not solely breastfed. His peditrian is aware of all the meds I take. I would apprieate contructive infomation anyone might have. I have no alturnative to being put back on my adderal due to I have been holding him all day and he is in my arms at night I'm terrified to put him down and either forget about him or his sister get to him. Now because I've held him so long it has hurt his delopement like rolling over and tummy time .I just want was is best for him. And without my adderal I space out. If anyone has any infomation let me know thanks

Anonymous

12/15/09 7:50pm

so babies healthy and we are on same dosage?

Anonymous

12/15/09 8:00pm

People do not understand what having ADHD is like, not being organized, sloppy handwritting, scattered thought, or the "crack addiction." Some people just can't it togather with out the meds. I am one of those, and people who critize the meds, are wrong. Because most of the time, ADHDer do without thinking if they are not in the medications. So that medication might actually help both the baby and parent, and of course I have my concerns like any other expecting mother, but all the ADHDers, that are writing need to put up, a year later reports.

eLLIE

12/15/09 8:14pm

I think that people who do not understand ADHDes, fustration, are writting and critizing innocent woman, for expressing their concerns, and showing that they want healthy children. Adhd, is evil, and only a ADHDer, can understand, no shrink, no parent (they can sympathize) but never truely understand. If the doctors are saying its okay to continue the medication, my concern is the long term effects, think more along the line of a vaccenation then the current effects. Meaning can negative results occur 6 years down the road, rather then now. I don't believe that ADHD needs to always be treated but I would not have gotten through high school without the meds, and I know that, and I need it to get through the work day, to be a stable parent I will need it. But What right does anyone have to critize a expecting mother for expressing her concerns? ADHD is part of life, without it we do not have dreamers, and artist and scientist, that are willing to explore and tunnel into that area of interest that excites them. But what are the long term effects of taking the medications while pregant, on the child later????

(sORRY ABOUT SPELLING BUT IT IS LATE, AND I WAS WORKING, AND NOW i AM RESEARCHING)

Anonymous

12/18/09 7:46pm

Your in IDOIT!!!

melissajoy@hotmail.com

1/ 9/10 10:19am

have you had any children? did you take adderall while you were pregnant? how did your a babies turn out?

melissajoy@hotmail.com

1/ 9/10 10:32am

Hey I would like to know more about you and your baby. how are they doing now? since you took adderall? I also take it and would like to know the development stages and how they went for you.

melissajoy@hotmail.com

1/ 9/10 10:39am

please respond with your story of your baby. i like you also took adderall before i knew i was pregnant. how is your baby doing now?

Whitney

1/10/10 1:14pm

You have got to be kidding me! You are saying that women that have severe ADHD should not be able to have children!!?? Wow, you are sounding more and more like an ass with every post.

The reason that MOST doctors recommend not taking ADHD meds during pregnancy is bc they DON'T KNOW the possible effects. They WILL recommend that you continue the medication IF AND ONLY IF the benefits outweigh the POTENTIAL risk. Same as with any Class C medication. Pain killers are not recommended for pregnancy for the same reason, but there are many people that take them bc their doctors prescribe them. I was prescribed Tramadol for a herniated disk after I rejected the RX for Vicodin that was prescribed to me. You simply cannot say that you know no doc would prescribe it or you know that it causes developmental issues....that is a lie, period.

There are plenty of women that are prescribed far more than 60mg per day. I was prescribed 60mg, I have a friend that was on 90mg...not abusing it, taking what the doctor ordered.

Have you ever heard of the saying 'You get more flies with honey than vinegar'? Well, it applies to this case. If you are so passionate about this then why would you insult and berate women for their decisions, why would you not lovingly express your POV and let them decide for themselves? You cannot bully or guilt someone into buying into your cause.

For those of you that are interested in reducing or eliminating your meds during pregnancy and even after, there are ways to treat naturally with herbs and supplements. Ginseng is a stimulant herb that acts similarly as the amphetamines do, just milder. Also promoted overall brain function. Ginkgo is great for memory and concentration. Fish Oil is wonderful in treating ADHD as well as heart disease, depression and many other problems. B vitamins are another key to treating ADHD naturally. As well as magnesium and calcium. Eliminating or reducing processed foods, preservatives, artificial flavors and coloring, refined sugar and high fructos corn syrup can also help keep ADHD under control.

Again, if you want to continue on the meds, just be aware of the risks and try to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I took 20mg of Adderall for the first 28 weeks and my son is now 16 months old and perfectly healthy. Walking, starting to talk, sign language, he even had a mischievous personality and likes to play tricks on people just like his father. He has APGARS of 9 & 10, 7lbs 3oz and just beautiful. So far there have been no problems that point to anything wrong with him. He has hit all of his milestones right on time. I am not saying that there is no risk associated with taking ADHD meds while pregnant, I am only saying that taking them doesn't instantly mean that you will have a child with birth defects. There are many factors that go into whether a child is healthy or not and what you put into your body is only a small part of that.

Carmella's Mommy

3/10/10 8:17pm

Hi Melissa! Sorry it has taken me a little long to respond; I think this forum we all have going here is so amazing! I wrote some of those posts OVER 2 years ago! Just to let you know, I am who wrote any posts under the name "NG" and "Carmella's Mommy."

My daughter is almost 17 months now. She is absolutely amazing! She is INCREDIBALLY verbal. She has been babbling, humming, and singing since the day she was born – so it’s no surprise that she is excelling in her verbal skills. At her check-ups, she has also always been above average in every intellectual, social, and developmental area.

Her growth has always been consistent, but she is usually in the 20-30 percentile. This is completely expected though, because I am only 5 ft tall, and her father is only 5’7.

Carmella goes to daycare, and she is one of the “popular” girls there. Ha! That sounds silly! But what I mean is that she has not had ANY behavioral issues; she doesn’t throw tantrums, crave attention, or act out when she doesn’t get her way. I like to think that is because of my amazing parenting skills, hahaha! Honestly, I expected her to be a “naughty” child, because I was. I expected to have a child who showed early signs of ADD, because I did. My child is calm, yet friendly; outgoing and goofy, yet shy and scared of new things. –“calm” and “shy” are two characteristics I have never possessed. I am extremely extroverted – to such an extreme that I can’t control my curiosity, multiple interests, and desire to take on more than I can handle. I see all of these characteristics in my daughter, but in healthy moderation.

I do not regret my decision to take Adderall in my 2^nd and 3^rd trimester. I do not see any side effects in my daughter. I am not a scientist, but I feel that, because my body was used to the medication, it reacted to my doses the same way it would react when given nutrients and water – my body took what it needed, then offered the rest to my daughter. My body was used to the dosage, so it expected that certain dose. Obviously my daughter was exposed to it, but I don’t feel as though she was receiving enough to affect her. Again. I am not a scientist.

Hope that helps. Let me know if there’s anything else I can help ya with =)

Melissa

7/ 9/10 1:22am

In response to the

Luck

1/ 2/11 12:53pm

Thank you for posting your story "Anonymous"- I will be a single mom and wouldnt have that added support if I got fired from my job. I will say that im 16 weeks pregnant and when I tried to come off the Adderall , all I wanted to do w as crawl away and die. I couldnt get up in the morning,,when I did? I didnt care about how I looked and I lost interest in EVERYTHING, even had a 100.00 goft card to go shopping and had NO interest!! I will say this- My baby is due in June, so far, everythigns great and he/she is healthy. I will not know for sure what effects it will have by my still taking the Adderall, but...DO know that my happiness and sense of well being and keeping my job and getting out of bed vs. being sad and depressed and miserable all day speaks for itself. I will keep taking Adderall...whoever said 60mg is unheard of..ITS 2011, ITS PERFECTLY NORMAL bc over time your body becomes used to it and you may need to increase the MG for it to continue to help you. That was a PUT DOWN and was rude. Some of us need this medication ( obviously I do ) to function on a day to day basis and the last thing we need is for you to think that you have the right to come on here and criticize us for that...believe and think whta you wish, you have that right..but, some things should be kept to yourself!!!!!! thanks- Good Luck to you all...I trust that my baby and I will be just fine. you manifest your own destiny, so QUIT WORRYING. If you cant stop taking adderALL...atleast stop worrying about it then or trying to read these messages to ease your mind. Go with your gut....does it feel wrong?? Cut back a little bit then...dont over do it. I cut my mg back as hard it is to do and now i dont feel guilty. try it.

marissa

4/26/09 3:11am

i took my adderall the first 2 months of my pregnancy. when i found out and went to the dr, i told her i had been taking it and she freaked out. she say it's usually fine after the first 3 months but the first 3 can cause major damage. I am so freaked out. they asked me if i wanted to continue taking it after the first trimester and i said HELL NO!! i am 28 weeks now, in my 3rd trimester. everything has been perfect so far but i still can't help but think there may be something wrong because of it. I don't think it is worth the risk or the worry. If you don't absolutely need it, like you will drop dead without it, then don't take it. In the beginning of pregnancy it is hard to realize that you are actually carrying a human life. This person does not have a say if you drink, smoke, or take drugs. Their future is in your hands. With that being said I don't think any risk is worth risking the rest of this innocent persons life. I pray to god that my child will be ok when he comes out. Every person and pregnancy is different. There is no saying what doesn't damage one will not damage another. I wish you all the best of luck and health with your babies!!!!

ellie

12/15/09 7:49pm

Hi, it has been just over a year, and like Erin, I am on Adderall XR 30 mil. and I am in week 9. I am considering adoption, as a option, for other reasons, but adoptive parents are worry warts beyond with good reason. So am I and I am curious, to how her pregnancy, went, ect..... thank you

adhdlawyer

12/17/09 3:27pm

I know this is old but if anyone is reading please stop Taking ADDERALL...

I have ADHD like most of you here and I want to conceive, I'm 31. Right now I can't do without it b/c I have a bar exam comming up so my plans are on hold. I can't function the same but that is a small sacrifice considering the risks. I also suffer from migraines, daily (full blown, vomiting, shaking, I see lights,please-kill-me kind of migraines). I took me over a year to try to find a treatment that won't be that harmful for my baby and that would work. Every time the dr wanted to try something new I had to suffer horrible migraines for weeks. Finally, the only treatment that works still carries some risks of low birth weight etc. I'm not going to bring a child into this world if I'm not willing to sacrifice my own life for him/her. So when is time to try to conceive again I will stop both of my treatments. It's going to be a huge and painful sacrifice but I want to be a mother, that is my choice and I will make it for that little human being because he can't make it for himself.

Btw, for the gals that say their doctors adviced them to take it while pregnant, I really doubt this happend, but if it did I would change doctors. No competent doctor would advice this (unless your life depended on it, which is not the case with Adderall). Also, I really don't think an OBGYN can prescribe you this without risking their license and exposing themselves to lawsuits, just like the other girl said. Adderal should only be prescribed by a doctors that treats this condition, i.e. a phsyquiatrist, neurologist etc. It carries serious risks. There are people out there who needs adderall to function and others because they are addicted to it and if sometimes Phsyquiatrist can't tell the difference much less an OBGYN. When I moved I asked the new neurologist who was treating my migraines to prescribe me Adderall so I wouldn't have to find another specialist (I gave him my previous doctor's info so he could verify my diagnosis) He refused and said I he is not a specialist on ADD even though some neurologists treat it.

Ellie

12/18/09 5:42pm

To the lawyer, as a daughter of a lawyer, don't start a family and your law practice at the same time, you won't have time for you kid. I know my parents love me but still. Trust me. What qualifies you to say stop taking a drug, that works? Law school doesn't, and if you cant concieve thats not adderall, trust me, i was on adderall, the pill and we used a condom, (because I wasn't planning on having children) But from what I can tell Aderall, isn't having the the same effects as Paxcil or any other drugs. If a person, is diebetic, would you tell them to stop taking their inslun? Seriously, all the specialist I have talked to say I am not high risk nor is the baby because of my medication for a chemical imbalance in the brian (get a cat scan) and then lets talk, and by the way, the bar, isn't that hard, its hyped up, believe me, I didn't graduate high school or college but my lsats got me into the best law school in the country, to bad I decided not to go, because I love to paint

adhdlawyer

12/18/09 6:55pm

Ellie,

First of all, sorry your parents didn't have time for you, hopefully that won't be my case. Second, I never said I had problems conceiving (I decided to stop ttc for now) or claimed to have any qualifications. I was only trying to share my experiences and my point of view based on what I know and the information I have. Also, do not compare diabetes with ADD (which is what we are talking about here), people don't die from ADD but they do die from diabetes so your analogy shows you don't have a good perspective on the matter.

And last, I know this is off the topic but LSAT is not the bar exam just so you know. You don't have to study for the LSAT, but you have to study for the bar. LSAT test certain skills not knowledge and in no way predicts how you will perform on your bar exam. I really don't know how you got into the "best law school in the country" without finishing high school or college, since law school requires a high school diploma and a BA, no ABA accredited school will even look at your application without it...just so you know in case you decide to go.

Again, as a person without medical qualifications, but as a person with ADD who has talked to different doctors about it, I would suggest you stop taking Adderall unless your life depended on it. But that is your decision, you are the one who is going to raise your baby not me. Hopefully you will have a healthy baby.

Whitney

1/10/10 1:28pm

Well, I am not a doctor, but I do work at a medical office and I have had 2 children. One completely drug free and one while taking adderall for the first 28 weeks. Both my children are perfectly healthy. 6 years old and 16 months. I will tell you that medical professionals CAN and WILL prescribe ADHD meds to a pregnant woman without the risk of a lawsuit. As long as the patient has been informed of ALL of the risks and has signed an informed consent form they are no longer in danger of lawsuits. Same situation as with pain killers, anti depressants or any other class C pregnancy drug. There is no way to legally prove that any defects the child might have are related to the medication and therefore the doctor cannot be held responsible of there is a problem bc the patient was informed of the potential risks and decided to take the medication anyways. You are studying law, you should know that.

melissa

1/ 9/10 10:10am

Dear Erin,

I would like to refrain from being angy. I posted some comments that I hope were not too hurtful towards but in reality want you to realize that by you saying you took 60 mg a day through out your whole pregancy you convinced many women this was ok. I read one womans story about how she could not find any reason not to stop taking her adderall probably because of comments like these, and her baby can not walk, talk, pee or poop on it's own and probably never will..they have done multiple surgery's on the little baby with in the first months to try and prevent it from going blind. I just think everyone is different. maybe God performed a miracle for you and you should be grateful. this woman only took 40 mg a day, it looks like you took 60 mg a day. i would just like to know if your baby is still healthy? and how it developed after birth?

grandma lise

1/ 9/10 3:45pm

Melissa,

What led you to this topic? Is there something that you're seeking information about that we might be able to help you with?

grandma lise

1/ 9/10 3:29pm

As an AD/HD adult and advocate, I found today's response to this older post incredibly mean, ugly, and frankly, self-indulgent. I've now read all of the responses. I am so thankful I did not have to weigh this decision. I wasn't diagnosed or treated for AD/HD until long after my son was born.

As a mother and grandmother, I can think of few decisions more difficult. My heart goes out to those of you who are faced with this decision. Each AD/HD woman's circumstances and ability to function without medication is unique. And not all pregnancies are planned.

Like many of you, I too feel uneasy about taking any medication during pregnancy, but for some, it may be necessary, particularly for those who do not have adequate support from family and friends.

Over the years, I have met a few AD/HD women who are a danger to themselves and others when they don't take their medication...a woman riding her horse one day who was almost killed by a tree branch because she impulsively turned and looked back...a mother whose child died because she had forgotten that she had medication in the bottom of a pencil holder left over from she and her husband's years in the Peace Corp. I cannot tell you how many times I drove through a red light or stop sign when I was in my 20's and early 30's. Yesterday, I sat with a mother for an hour whose 15 year old daughter tragically died in a car accident this past summer. The young man who was driving drove through a stop sign. Inattentiveness, one of the core symptoms of AD/HD, can be deadly.

I personally don't believe there is one right answer.

I believe this is a decision that needs to be weighed by the parents and the doctor, though I encourage parents to seek information and medical opinions from as many sources as possible.

I did a google search on "birth defects due to adderall". Here's one medical opinion that felt fair and honest to me:

http://www.healthline.com/blogs/pregnancy_childbirth/2007/01/more-on-meds-and-pregnancy-adderall.html

It's titled, More on Meds and Pregnancy: Adderall & Cymbalta by Kenneth F. Trofatter, Jr., M.D, Ph.D on the website www.healthline.com. It is dated January 27, 2007.

I encourage anyone who reads this or the above article to read the article and comments in its entirety BEFORE making any further comments. I also encourage you to pay more attention to medical opinion than to the highly biased opinions expressed here.

grandma lise

melissajoy@hotmail.com

1/ 9/10 4:13pm

Thank you for your response. it was very nice

Merely Me, Health Guide

1/12/10 7:11pm

Hello all

I see that this particular question on ADHD Central has a life of its own right now. The problem is that there is very little research about how Adderall affects an unborn child. The research has all been done on mice and rats. But here is what the official Adderall site says about taking this medication while pregnant or breastfeeding:

"Pregnancy: Pregnancy Category C. Amphetamine, in the enantiomer ratio
present in ADDERALL® (d- to l- ratio of 3:1), had no apparent effects on
embryofetal morphological development or survival when orally administered
to pregnant rats and rabbits throughout the period of organogenesis at doses
of up to 6 and 16 mg/kg/day, respectively. These doses are approximately 1.5
and 8 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose of 30
mg/day [child] on a mg/m2 body surface area basis. Fetal malformations and
death have been reported in mice following parenteral administration of
d-amphetamine doses of 50 mg/kg/day (approximately 6 times that of a
human dose of 30 mg/day [child] on a mg/m2 basis) or greater to pregnant
animals. Administration of these doses was also associated with severe
maternal toxicity.

A number of studies in rodents indicate that prenatal or early postnatal
exposure to amphetamine (d- or d,l-), at doses similar to those used
clinically, can result in long-term neurochemical and behavioral alterations.
Reported behavioral effects include learning and memory deficits, altered
locomotor activity, and changes in sexual function.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. There
has been one report of severe congenital bony deformity, tracheo-esophageal
fistula, and anal atresia (vater association) in a baby born to a woman who
took dextroamphetamine sulfate with lovastatin during the first trimester of
pregnancy. Amphetamines should be used during pregnancy only if the
potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Nonteratogenic Effects: Infants born to mothers dependent on amphetamines
have an increased risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. Also, these
infants may experience symptoms of withdrawal as demonstrated by
dysphoria, including agitation, and significant lassitude.

Usage in Nursing Mothers: Amphetamines are excreted in human milk.
Mothers taking amphetamines should be advised to refrain from nursing"

So here are the possible risks. It definitely warrants a discussion with your doctor.

Hope this helps.

Anonymous

3/ 4/10 1:42pm

I just found out I am 2 months pregnant and have been taking Adderall this entire time. My husband and I weren't planning this and we have gone baby free for 12 years using the same birth control methods.

I asked my Dr. today and she advised against taking Adderall during pregnancy at all. She also stated that there weren't any safe rx alternatives. Someone mentioned a natural alternative ... is there a name to this alternative available? Anyone know?

I don't know what to prepare for...a baby? A miscarriage?

This is all very troubling.

Alex

7/13/10 2:43am

I am 31 weeks pregnant. I was on Adderall until 28 weeks. My prescription was 60 mgs a day. I didn't take the whole amount, just enough to get by. I did try to stop taking the med when I found out I was pg in January 2010. It was a complete disaster. I have gestational diabetes, overweight and 41 years of age. My sugars were out of control, gained more weight while off the med for 2 weeks than the rest of the time, house fell apart, slept the whole time, no shower, husband and other children neglected, etc., etc.

I started taking them again and I can't explain it but it just helps me do what I need to do including staying on my very strict gestational diabetes diet, excercise, care about my life, family and responsibility. My psychiatrist took me off the prescription, she did it slowly. Yes, things are pretty bad, but I have started some of the natural things stated earlier. It's totally not any comparison but it at least gets me out of bed for about an hour or two to do what I have to do. I did end up in the hospital for a few days last week as I was dehydrated and my sugar levels were out of control. I am ok and the baby is good as well. She is actually 4 pounds, doc says she thinks she is 33 weeks not 31. If she gets too big too soon it's not good. While on Adderall I had an amnio done, lots of ultrasounds, etc, and they were ALL PERFECT, blood pressure, sugar, weight gain!!

Anyway, I have like 6-7 weeks to go. I will post the result of my newborn shortly after I have her. I just hope that the doc's decision to take me off was really the best thing, it feels to me that the risk of not being on it is worse than being on it.

I am not posting to be told how bad it all is. I am posting because I read all of this at the beginning of my pregnancy and wished there was more information on what Adderrall does to the baby rather than could do.

I have about 7 weeks to go, yes I

mommytoirishtwins

9/15/10 9:31am

To Melissa! and all the other posters of this forum- I know this is an old post but I remember having the same concerns during my pregnancy and wanted to share my pregnancy outcome. I take 90 mg of Adderall a day for my ADHD, and I am on an insulin pump for my type 1 diabetes. I am 30 years old and just had my first child in february. I was a high risk pregnancy and was seen and followed by an endocronologist, several ob/gyn's in my normal practice, a team of extremely qualified doctors who specialized in high risk pregnancy's at the leading fetal diagnostic center in Philadelphia (as well as one of the best in the United States), and my psychiatrist throughout my entire pregnancy. They all communicated with eachother not only about my blood sugars, amniotic fluid measurements, etc., but also about my adderall use. The only person who seemed to have an issue with it was the nurse who took my blood pressure, suggesting that I should try to not take it. Interesting that the doctors who were trained in making decisions for woman who are high risk, with the their main objective being, delivering a healthy baby at the end, were the ones who all agreed that Aderall is not a major concern. In fact the only concern they said is the fact that it is a catagory C and therefore no major studies have been recorded to give evidence of its saftey either way. That stated, one of the head doctors who did my first consulation at the high risk center said that over the years thousands and thousands of woman with thousands of different conditons have came through the center. Very rarely has prescribed medication caused a negative outcome in newborns. Even catagory D medication given to an epileptic to control ceizures, for example has such a low adverse effect on a newborn, that when it does occur it can almost always be ruled out to another health or genetic issue that the mother is carrying. Yet it would be a law suit against the drug companys if they did not catergorize medications in compliance to basic animal studies conducted, in the extreme instance that even one child was born sick while a mother took the drug (even if it could have been due to another variable). Miraculously even opiate and methamphatemine addicted mothers often produce healthy baby's, if not healthy at first most recover fully after withdrawl subsides. That to me is very sad and unfair to a child...babies are very resiliant though, and that is my point (and yes I know that lingering behavioral problems may occur). So when there is a problem with a newborn unfortunatly it is going to happen regardless if a mother had too much coffee in her last two trimesters, or if she was a perfect by the book pregnant healthy woman. Medication does not cause retardation. That is ignorant and just not approriate to use in such regards to try to scare people. Alcohol, high fever, complications during delivery or malpractice and some chemical toxins such as high doses of radiation are the only known environmental causes of mental retardation, other factors would be genetics. So....after receiving that information from doctors who deal with such things daily, the final word was.."Adderall is not a huge concern for me, infact I have not once seen an adverse effect in a baby or child whose mother has taken Aderall in any of the years in practice. We deal with many mothers who are prescribed Adderall and continue to have healthy babies."

My daughter was 9.5, full term, and is now 6 1/2 months old and is crawling, early at everything, slept through the night at 7 weeks, is happy, never gets sick, and is extremely pleasant and easy to care for as far as infants go. I am lucky to have a wonderful daughter, you never know what you may get as far as tempermant and demeanor, but I do know my continued adderall use during pregnancy was the right choice for my well being and health without putting my daughter at risk. I hope those who are seeking some personal experiences of other ADHD mommies can read a true experience and feel comfortable discussing their on treatment with their doctors.

As far as that person calling themselves Melissa, it is pretty obvious that she is guilty of something..she seeks out forums to rant in such a crude and very poor mannered way to satisfy some pathetic need she harbors. Maybe Melissa was born mentally ill and she is resentful in some way. If that is the case I hope she gets the help she needs and lots of prayers. It is also obvious that she was not getting the answers she hoped for and the anynomous postings about the 3 month old who couldn't sit or was blind, whatever..because of adderall, was actually her posts to try to prove a point that no one was proving for her, all made up..sad and not funny.

WTR1271

10/26/10 9:19pm

I would like someone to contact me who took adderall while pregnant. Is there anyone interested in talking?

Kell

11/15/10 2:22pm

Adderall has only been studied in animals and at doses far exceeding the normal human dosage, which is why it is noted as Cat. C med. It's not ethical to test in pregnant humans. I know several people who took the drug throughout their pregnancies with no problems. Follow your doctors advice and you will be fine.

preggomommy

1/11/11 10:59am

For those who have taken adderal through out their pregnancy, why havent you reported it to the fda? Doing this would let them know that nothing terrible has happened to a human who took adderal while being pregnant. Im 6 weeks and have been on adderal and im not getting off of it. The only study i have found was on who had bad effects but she was also on a cholesteral lowering medication, who is to really know if it was that or the adderal that caused those birth defects. My obgyn is looking into it, but for now I am going to get off of it. Please let me know if how your babies are turning out. Im really struggling at work, thank god i have a great boss who has children with adhd. thank you for your responses and I encourge you to report your experiences to the fda. people who are bad mouthing us need to walk in our shoes first.

jules

1/20/11 7:36am

So sorry about your baby with "those birth defects" as you stated. I'm sure it was not the meds but just your genetic makeup so don't be hard on yourself.

confused

5/ 8/11 2:16am

I'm sure it is different for everyone, but I would like to post that the only two times I have got pregnant were while on adderall and sadly I had miscarriages both times at about 3 months within 30 minutes of taking my 30mg xr. I thought the first time was just a fluke, yet in the back of my mind I was scared. the 2nd time, confirmed for me it was the medicine. What sucks is I haven't been able to get pregnant off the medicine. I feel like it helped me get pregnant and ended my pregnancies... so now what? I need the medicine too so badly as I too, am in the 97%. yet, I don't want to lose another baby...but now I can't seem to get pregnant again. I just wanted to state that I lost both my pregnancies because it seems that everyone else has only had good luck and I did alot of research too when I found out I was pregnant to make sure it was ok and safe and saw nothing bad.

knowledge is power

5/24/11 10:29pm

I took adderall during my pregnancy, the doctor weighs out the pros and cons, I took 20 mg 2 times a day while I was in medical school. I had an extremely healthy pregnancy and a very healthy and beautiful baby girl. They tell you not to take it because they DON'T KNOW THE EFFECTS, because it's unethical to test drugs on pregnant women, however more recent studies have shown if you are a healthy adult it should not effect your unborn baby. It doesn't add drugs to your body, the drug holds amounts of a natural chemical that your body releases in your body for longer periods of time to aid in more "complete" synapses, therefore there is no dangerous chemicals going into your baby on top of the fact they our bodies are using our liver to filter out our chemicals to not harm the fetus, a baby's liver is not used until after they are delievered.

leigha1

9/ 6/11 9:05pm

i kno a baby that was born, and the mother did adderal while pregnant , the baby came out with a cleft palet and celft lip. he is 14 months now and weighs as much as a 4 month old would weigh. also he doesnt sit up, walk and hold on to anything to try to walk. so yes i think that addeeral does have a birth affect

Whitney

1/14/12 10:59am

I don't think one case is proof that it does cause birth defects. What is to say that baby doesn't have a chromosomal abnormality or some other illness unrelated wo anything the mother did?

CSP

2/ 8/12 7:48pm

I have been on adderall/ritalin since I was 21. Had I known all the years of growing up what I know now, my life would have been much easier! It has helped me to graduate after nearly 10 years of trying. It has helped me to establish a career that I never thought was possible. It has helped me to make responsible decisions, rather than impulsive, and become a full-functioning adult. The only caveat is that I would prefer to feel this way without the use of medication. The thought of taking medication to regulate any internal abnormality has always plagued me with guilt and to be perfectly honest, bouts of shame. I hate being on medication. HATE! I have tried everything from morning/afternoon exercise, eliminating processed foods, extra studying, flashcards with colors and images, sleeping early and yes, overall it has made me feel healthier...but behold the ADD is still there. When I get to work and I do not take my medication, my eyes feel foggy and my drive to carry out tasks seems weirdly obstructed. When I arrive home I tend to be more “clocked out” than normal. It’s just the way it is and I’m still adjusting after all this time.

After trying for three years, I'm 10 weeks pregnant and you can imagine the double dose of guilt I feel daily for wanting to take 5mg during the work week. I have cut my dose in quarters in fear of harming the baby and believe it or not the little tiny bit I do take has been able to take the sting off of my ADD symptoms. Not much but enough to get through the first part of the day.

Am I selfish for wanting to function while pregnant? People with ADD and people not diagnosed with ADD do not operate nearly the same. Your normal is not my normal. My priority is my baby, and because of it, I feel the ability to function and sustain an income, as well as a healthy MENTAL capacity should be also at the top of my list of concerns. This decision is mine alone and I do not encourage anyone to do one thing or the other. I have heard that pregnancy tends to help with ADD symptoms as it progresses and if so I welcome it with open arms and will cease to take medication immediately. That is a personal goal for myself.

Because no one should have the right to speak into someone else's life, especially in regards to something so personal, I think the best way for us all to use this forum effectively is to share openly and not so quick to diagnose each other's personal decisions. We all have a brain and conscience and need to make the best decisions for ourselves.

I wish us all healthy pregnancies, perfect babies and happy lives. I cannot depict the future but I can tell you that no matter what my baby looks like, I vow to love him/her with every ounce of me.

Adderall and pregnancy/breastfeeding

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