Lisdexamfetamine
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Therapeutic amfetamines can be used in pregnancy if recommended by a specialist.
What are they?
Therapeutic amfetamines (Amfexa®, Dexedrine®, dexamfetamine, Elvanse®, lisdexamfetamine) are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking a therapeutic amfetamine in pregnancy?
Therapeutic amfetamines can reduce symptoms of ADHD. Treatment may help you stay well during pregnancy and while caring for your baby.
Risks
Are there any risks from taking a therapeutic amfetamine during pregnancy?
Therapeutic amfetamine use in pregnancy is not known to cause birth defects in the baby.
Use in later pregnancy may affect blood flow through the placenta. This could increase the chance of your baby being born with a low birth weight.
Other effects, such as a slight increase in stillbirth risk, have been seen in some but not all studies, possibly linked to an increased chance of pre-eclampsia in women taking therapeutic amfetamines. However, stillbirth remains rare following therapeutic amfetamine use.
Use around the time of delivery can cause short-term withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby. Babies may need to be monitored after birth to check for jitteriness, difficulty sleeping, and breathing and feeding problems.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to taking a therapeutic amfetamine?
Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat ADHD, so switching may be an option. Some people with ADHD can manage without medicines, but this is not the case for everyone. If your ADHD is well controlled with a therapeutic amfetamine, it may be better to continue treatment rather than stop and risk relapse.
If you are planning a pregnancy, speak to your GP or specialist about whether a therapeutic amfetamine is still the best option. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a therapeutic amfetamine, arrange to be seen as soon as possible by your GP or specialist.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?
If ADHD causes problems with your health and wellbeing, it is important that your symptoms remain well controlled during pregnancy. Stopping medication may cause your symptoms to return, and sudden discontinuation can cause withdrawal effects.
Medicines are only prescribed during pregnancy when necessary. Your doctor or specialist can discuss the benefits and any risks with you.
Do not stop taking a therapeutic amfetamine without speaking to your GP or specialist.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
All pregnant women in the UK are offered a detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of routine antenatal care. No extra monitoring for birth defects is required following therapeutic amfetamine use in pregnancy.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken a therapeutic amfetamine?
We do not expect any increased risk to the baby if the father took a therapeutic amfetamine before or around the time you became pregnant.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions about the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.