Is it safe for women with ADHD to take their medication during pregnancy? A new study finds that children exposed to ADHD medications in utero are no more likely to have neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, impaired vision or hearing, epilepsy, febrile seizures, and growth retardation.
The study included more than 1 million children born between 1998 and 2015, who were followed for years. Among the participants, about 900 children had mothers who continued their ADHD medication, while 1,200 had mothers who quit before the pregnancy. The researchers found no differences in the rate of neurodevelopmental disorders among the groups.
One study author says "There are still unknowns, but these results may contribute to women making informed decisions about using ADHD medication during pregnancy." More research is needed to determine whether ADHD medication during pregnancy might be associated with other types of outcomes besides neurodevelopmental.
