Many moms take medications for their physical and mental health while they are pregnant and breastfeeding. But it is important to remember that just because a medication was approved for use during pregnancy does not mean it is safe to use while breastfeeding. This is because medications enter your baby’s system differently through breast milk than they did during pregnancy.
About ADHD Medication
ADHD medication is typically prescribed for children and adults who are managing short attention spans and hyperactivity. ADHD medication options are divided into two categories:
- Stimulants – These are the most widely used ADHD medications because they typically provide great results.
- Nonstimulants – These medications are newer and were first used in 2003. While they are not as effective as stimulant medications, the effects can last up to 24-hours.
Your prescribed dosage depends on your age, height/weight, and physical or mental needs. You may also be on an immediate release capsule or a sustained release capsule depending on what provides the best results for your needs.
Medications and Breastfeeding
It is important to remember that all substances, including vitamins, supplements, and medication, pass into your breast milk. When babies are first born, their digestive systems don’t yet have the capacity to metabolize medications and clear them from their bodies.
According to studies on the use of various medications and drugs during pregnancy, adverse reactions primarily occurred in infants younger than two months of age. They rarely happened in infants over six months of age.
Because of this, newborns are more susceptible to side effects from medications that pass through breast milk. As babies grow stronger, their bodies are more capable of filtering out the things they don’t need. For this reason, your doctor may recommend that you either lower your dose or stop taking your medication for a certain length of time when your baby is first born.
Medications Dosage Recommendations
As with all medications, your doctor will have to consider your overall health as well as that of your infant. Before starting or continuing any medication, talk to your doctor about it. Generally speaking, ADHD medications are approved for breastfeeding as long as you don’t exceed the recommended dose {Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women’s Mental Health: “Is It Safe to Take ADHD Medications While Breastfeeding?”}:
- Methylphenidate – 15 to 80 mg
- Amphetamine – 20 to 35 mg
If possible, stay toward the lower end of the recommended dose. Remember that becoming a mom or adding another child to your family takes a toll on you both physically and mentally. You may have to decide if it is better to offer your baby formula and stay on your medication. Your health is just as important as your baby’s.
Plan When You Take Medication
You may be able to time taking your medication around when you breastfeed your baby. When you take an immediate release capsule, the levels of stimulant in your bloodstream peak within 1-2 hours and then slowly decline.
If you take an extended-release tablet, the stimulant levels in your bloodstream gradually rise and remain steady for 6-8 hours before beginning to decline.
In tests done on breast milk, the amount of ADHD medication found in breast milk was directly proportionate to levels found in the mother’s bloodstream.
Other Considerations for ADHD Medications
Want to know more about ADHD? It is very normal to have moments when you feel unfocused, have difficulty paying attention, or feel more active than usual. However, many people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder experience episodes which are more frequent and often more intense.
People with symptoms of inattention may:
- Overlook details that seem careless
- Have difficulty sustaining tasks for a long period of time
- Not seem engaged in conversations
- Be easily sidetracked or distracted
- Not be able to multitask
- Lose things frequently
People with symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity may:
- Fidget and squirm or always be moving
- Feel the need to get up and move around
- Talk a lot and interrupt during conversations
Why Take ADHD Medication? While some women take ADHD medication to treat ADHD symptoms, there are other reasons ADHD medications are prescribed for adults. Many stimulant ADHD medications work to amplify the effects of antidepressants. Other times, the medicine is prescribed for patients with narcolepsy.
