I have shared the chapter on ADHD from my book Breastfeeding and Chronic Medical Conditions multiple times this week. Many mothers seem to be diagnosed in later life and are concerned about breastfeeding. Hope this is a useful link.
More information
ADHD and Breastfeeding Factsheet
If this is useful maybe you need the book available on Amazon. I published on Kindle to try to make this more affordable and available to mothers and breastfeeding supporters as well as professionals
https://infantrisk.com/content/adhd-medications-and-breastfeeding
I came off my medication to conceive and my baby is now 6 months old. I am really struggling to think straight now and getting really overwhelmed by the smallest of things.
Description
ADHD is a disorder that includes symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. It is normally diagnosed in childhood, but some parents have found themselves being diagnosed when seeking a diagnosis for their children. The cause is unknown, but it seems to at least in part, genetic. It has been suggested that being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy), having a low birth weight or maternal smoking or alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy may be linked. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to affect about 1 in 20 children in the UK with incidence being three times higher in boys.
Symptoms fall into 2 categories:
inattentiveness main symptoms of which are:
- having a short attention span and being easily distracted
- making careless mistakes
- appearing forgetful or losing things
- being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious
- appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
- constantly changing activity or task
- having difficulty organising tasks
hyperactivity and impulsiveness main symptoms of which are:
- being unable to sit still and constantly fidgeting
- being unable to concentrate on tasks
- excessive physical movement
- excessive talking
- being unable to wait turn
- acting without thinking
- interrupting conversations
- little or no sense of danger
- ADHD may be linked with anxiety, autism, and several other conditions. By the age of 25, an estimated 15% of people diagnosed with ADHD as children still have a full range of symptoms, and 65% still have some symptoms that affect their daily lives. ( https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms/)
Treatment
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin ™, Concerta ™); works by increasing the amount of a dopamine in the parts of the brain responsible for self-control and attention. It is usually the first line treatment. There are side effects of loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping and mood swings. Limited evidence indicates that methylphenidate levels in milk are very low and not detectable in infant serum. The effects of methylphenidate in milk on the neurological development of the infant have not been well studied. Monitor the baby for agitation, irritability, poor sleeping patterns, changes in feeding and poor weight gain.
- Atomexatine is a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), increasing levels of noradrenaline rather than dopamine. It can aid concentration and help control impulses. Side effects include rise in blood pressure and heart rate, nausea and vomiting, gastric pain, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, headaches, and irritability. More importantly it has been associated with suicidal thoughts and liver damage. There is no published experience with atomoxetine during breastfeeding, although reports from the manufacturer found no serious adverse effects in two breastfed infants (Besag 2014).
- Dexamphetamine. Side effects include decreased appetite, mood swings, agitation and aggression, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Only used if lisdexamphetamine is helpful but not tolerated. In dosages prescribed for medical indications, some evidence indicates that dextroamphetamine might not affect nursing infants adversely. The effect of dextroamphetamine in milk on the neurological development of the infant has not been well studied. It is possible that large dosages of dextroamphetamine might interfere with milk production. Infant Monitoring for agitation, hyperactivity, insomnia, decreased appetite, weight gain, and tremor.
- Lisdexamphetamine (Vyvance ™) may be offered as first line treatment in adults. Side effects include decreased appetite, aggression or drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Lisdexamfetamine is a prodrug of dextroamphetamine. In medicinal dosages, some evidence (5 mothers studied) indicates that dextroamphetamine might not affect nursing infants adversely. The effect of dextroamphetamine in milk on the neurological development of the infant has not been well studied. Infant Monitoring should be for agitation, irritability, poor sleeping patterns and poor weight gain.
- The NHS website suggests that for adults with ADHD if you find it hard to stay organised, then make lists, keep diaries, stick up reminders and set aside some time to plan what you need to do
- let off steam by exercising regularly
- find ways to help you relax, such as listening to music or learning relaxation techniques
- if you have a job, speak to your employer about your condition, and discuss anything they can do to help you work better
- talk to your doctor about your suitability to drive, as you will need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if your ADHD affects your driving
- contact or join a local or national support group – these organisations can put you in touch with other people in a similar situation, and can be a good source of support, information, and advice
References
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management; NICE guideline (March 2018, updated September 2019)
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; NICE CKS, May 2018
- Besag FM. ADHD treatment and pregnancy. Drug Saf. 2014; 37:397-40
- NHS ADHD https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/living-with/
- Further Information
- AADUK https://aadduk.org/
Can women with ADHD stay on medication while they breastfeed?
Anecdotally there are many mothers who take medication for ADHD during their breastfeeding journey despite a lack of published studies on the effect of the level of medication passing through breastmilk to babies. It is a topic regularly raised on social media discussions from which many parents take their information. Since the pandemic the increase in diagnoses of adults has driven the discussions too.
As with many drugs we rely on the pharmacokinetics of the products: that is the way that the drugs are handled by the body. Drugs used to treat ADHD are not recommended during breastfeeding as the manufacturers are not required to take responsibility as they cannot ethically conduct clinical trials during the development of the medication. This is true of virtually all products used by breastfeeding women – they are used outside of the product licence and prescribed with the professionals being required to take responsibility.
For example methylphenidate (Concerta™ and Ritalin™) was studied in 3 women taking between 35 and 80mg daily. The average milk levels measured were very low. The infants had no drug-related adverse reactions and were developing normally for their ages which averaged 4.4 months. No adverse events have been identified according to specialist sources although it would be wise to monitor changes in sleep patters and feeding including weight gain.
What ones are safest?
It is difficult to say which one is “safest” as this is a relative term. No drug is absolutely safe, but all of the drugs used to treat ADHD are recognised as compatible with breastfeeding by expert, specialist sources. The drug which would generally be chosen is the one that has proven to be most effective for the mother. Methylphenidate could perhaps be said to have the best evidence but as has already been discussed, the data published is limited. The decision to prescribe should be agreed between the mother and her professionals with full, accessible information so that she can make an informed choice in the risks and benefits for her and her nursling. Ongoing breastfeeding has many health advantages but if the mother has concerns about exposing her child to the medication (in however low a level) that may influence her choice as to whether to take the drug and continue to breastfeed, breastfeed but delay the drug or take the medication and choose to formula feed. We all have individual feelings as to the risks and benefits of each choice.
Is there a risk to the baby at all?
In the first 6 weeks after birth a baby has immature kidney and liver function and is at greater risk of not being able to metabolise the levels of drug passing through breastmilk. This in turn makes it more likely that side effects such as changes in sleep and feeding patters may occur but are difficult to identify from normal neonatal behaviour.
Individual reactions are always possible although reporting in specialist expert sources suggest these are limited.
Is it advised to stay on rather than coping without it?
That is very much an individual decision depending on how well the mother is coping with her symptoms alongside the complexity of life with a newborn which will all be associated with loss of routine and long periods sitting to breastfeed. Most mothers stop medication during pregnancy and may be desperate to re start. A fully informed discussion with appropriate, accessible data puts the decision with the mother on what she feels comfortable with.
Specialist sources of information
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/safety-in-lactation-drugs-for-adhd
