Is dextroamphetamine safe during pregnancy?

I take dextroamphetamine. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?

It is not known if dextroamphetamine can make it harder to get pregnant.

Does taking dextroamphetamine increase the chance of miscarriage?

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Studies have not been done to see if dextroamphetamine can increase the chance of miscarriage.

Does taking dextroamphetamine increase the chance of birth defects?

Birth defects can happen in any pregnancy for different reasons. Out of all babies born each year, about 3 out of 100 (3%) will have a birth defect. We look at research studies to try to understand if an exposure, like dextroamphetamine, might increase the chance of birth defects in a pregnancy. Using dextroamphetamine as prescribed for medical reasons does not appear to increase the chance of birth defects.

Does taking dextroamphetamine in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?

One older study reported lower infant birth weight among women who used prescribed dextroamphetamine in the 3 rd trimester of pregnancy to control weight gain. Other studies looking at the use of dextroamphetamine with amphetamine to treat ADHD have not found an effect on birth weight.

Research shows that misuse of amphetamines (using more than prescribed or use without a prescription) might increase the chance for poor growth (babies born small and/or with small head size), low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth), and preterm delivery (birth before week 37). Pregnancies in these studies might have had other risk factors for these issues, such as exposure to alcohol and cigarettes, or not having prenatal care.

I need to take dextroamphetamine throughout my entire pregnancy. Will it cause withdrawal symptoms in my baby after birth?

Misuse of other amphetamines (such as methamphetamine) during pregnancy can cause temporary symptoms in newborns soon after birth. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as withdrawal. They can include jitteriness, sleepiness, and trouble breathing at the time of birth. These symptoms have not been reported in the newborns of women who are taking dextroamphetamine as prescribed by their healthcare providers.

Does taking dextroamphetamine in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?

Studies have not been done to see if dextroamphetamine can increase the chance of behavior or learning issues for the child.

If a man takes dextroamphetamine, could it affect fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?

Studies have not been done to see if dextroamphetamine could affect a man’s fertility (ability to get a woman pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. In general, exposures that men have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/paternal-exposures-pregnancy/ .