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Is methylphenidate safe during pregnancy?

Answered by MotherToBaby’s teratology specialists, quoted in full — including the questions most pages skip, like whether a father’s exposure matters.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the MotherToBaby fact sheet for methylphenidate (OTIS, published via the NIH) sourcesUpdated Jul 21, 2026How we research

The questions people actually ask about methylphenidate in pregnancy

Answered by MotherToBaby, the fact sheets written by the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists and published through the NIH. Quoted in full — we do not condense them.

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

Studies have not been done in humans to see if the use of methylphenidate could affect fertility (ability to get pregnant). Animal studies did not show any harmful effects on fertility, even at doses up to 200 times higher than the maximum dose used in humans.

Does taking methylphenidate increase the chance of miscarriage?

Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. One small study suggested a slight increased chance, but most studies have not found a higher chance of miscarriage. Because miscarriage can happen for many reasons, it is hard to know whether a medication, the condition being treated, or other factors such as age or health are the cause.

Does taking methylphenidate 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 methylphenidate, might increase the chance of birth defects in a pregnancy.

One large database study suggested a possible increase in heart defects, but other studies did not find this. Most studies, including one large study of about 3,000 pregnancies, have not found an increased chance of birth defects with methylphenidate use during pregnancy. The skin patch form of methylphenidate has not been studied in pregnancy.

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

It is not known if taking methylphenidate can increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems, such as preterm delivery (birth before week 37) or low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces at birth) when methylphenidate is taken as prescribed during pregnancy.

One study found a higher chance of high blood pressure and preeclampsia during pregnancy. Preeclampsia can cause serious problems, including seizures, early delivery, stillbirth, or babies smaller than expected. Another study did not find a higher risk of stillbirth or small babies, but it did report more preterm labor and preeclampsia. The authors noted that their results were limited and should not be used to recommend stopping ADHD treatment during pregnancy. A third study did not find an increased risk of pregnancy-related problems. Because many factors can affect pregnancy outcomes, it is hard to know whether the medication, the condition being treated, or other factors such as age or health explain these findings.

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

Some exposures during pregnancy can cause temporary symptoms in newborns soon after birth. These symptoms are sometimes referred to as withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms have not been reported when methylphenidate was taken as directed by a healthcare provider.

One small study reported withdrawal symptoms in children exposed to methylphenidate and an opioid called pentazocine before birth. Many of the reports also included other factors, such as exposure to cocaine and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Also, pentazocine and other opioid exposures during pregnancy can increase the chance of withdrawal symptoms after exposure in pregnancy.

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

Methylphenidate is not expected to increase the chance of behavior or learning issues for the child. Limited studies have shown typical growth in children up to one year of age and no changes in neurodevelopment in children after exposure to methylphenidate during pregnancy.

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

A study with 50 participants found that males who had been taking methylphenidate for at least 1 year had a decrease in motility (movement) of sperm and a decrease in the amount of sperm produced. This could affect fertility (ability to make healthy sperm). Studies have not been done to see if men taking methylphenidate can increase the chance of birth defects. 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/ .

Quoted from MotherToBaby Fact Sheets — Methylphenidate, published February 1, 2026. MotherToBaby states its fact sheets should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare providers.

Breastfeeding is a separate question — what LactMed says about methylphenidate

This is general reference information, not medical advice. Whether to take any medication in pregnancy is a decision for you and your prescriber; do not start or stop a drug on your own, because an untreated condition can also carry risk.