ADHD Drug Use During Pregnancy
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is estimated to affect approximately three percent of children, teens, and adults worldwide. Yet the use of stimulants, including methylphenidate, amphetamines, and others, to manage ADHD has increased by almost 800 percent between 1995 and 2015.
Frighteningly, a recent study in the United States indicates the infants of mothers who took Methylphenidate during the first trimester of pregnancy had a 28-percent increase in cardiac malformations. Methylphenidate is the active ingredient in Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin, and other stimulants. The use of amphetamines, which are found in stimulants that include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dyanavel, Evekeo, ProCentra, and Vyvanse, were not found to increase the risk. A study done in Nordic countries supported the findings of the U.S. study.
Cardiac Malformations
Cardiac malformations are a serious but rare outcome, even among women who take Methylphenidate during pregnancy. However, it is important that pregnant women, and those who plan to become pregnant, can weigh the risks and benefits of different treatment approaches to ADHD. This is an important consideration for women whose symptoms are severe, and interfere with daily functioning.
ADHD is a chemical problem in the management systems of the brain. People who suffer from this disorder may be able to concentrate on activities they enjoy, but when they find a task repetitive or boring, they consistently have trouble maintaining focus. Other symptoms of ADHD may include:
- Being easily distracted by noises, activity, or other external events that most people can ignore
- Struggling to complete simple tasks, leading them to overlook details
- Difficulty in focusing or paying attention when reading or listening to others
- Zoning out, including during conversations
- Poor listening skills with difficulty in remembering conversations and following directions
- Poor organizational skills
- Impulsivity
- Emotional challenges
- Poor self-control with addictive tendencies
- Restlessness
A cardiac malformation is a structural defect of the heart and its structures. Symptoms may include breathlessness, palpitations, an irregular pulse or rapid pulse, or there may be no symptoms at all. Complications related to cardiac malformation may include heart failure, congestive heart failure, and fatality.
If you or your child has suffered an injury due to a dangerous drug or a doctor who improperly prescribed a medication, please call the New Jersey dangerous drug lawyers at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP at 732-777-0100, or contact us online for a free consultation. Our offices are centrally located in Red Bank, Toms River, and Edison, New Jersey, and we serve clients throughout the state.
Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP has purposely remained small in size, because it is important to us that we get to know our clients and their needs. Larger NJ injury firms may churn out case after case, but that’s not how we operate. Partners Barry Eichen, William Crutchlow, and Daryl Zaslow have created a firm with the resources to handle complex litigation, and a team that takes your case personally.
Find out more about Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP