Is Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about vyvanse during pregnancy?

1. Studies of women taking dextroamphetamine as prescribed, the compound Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) breaks down into in the body, haven't reported an increased chance of birth defects above the general population's roughly 3% baseline, and one study of 130 pregnancies found no clear increase in miscarriage. 1
2. Research distinguishes prescribed use from misuse: taking dextroamphetamine as prescribed for a medical reason hasn't been tied to a higher rate of birth defects, while misuse of amphetamines is linked to a higher chance of poor fetal growth, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. 2
3. Newborn withdrawal symptoms have not been reported in babies of women taking dextroamphetamine as prescribed, though unprescribed or excessive use has been linked to temporary symptoms like jitteriness, sleepiness, and breathing trouble in newborns. 2
4. A population-based study of over 312,000 pregnancies found ADHD medication use associated with a higher risk of gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes, but when comparing women who kept taking medication through pregnancy against those who stopped before conceiving, the risk difference shrank substantially, suggesting ADHD itself, not necessarily the medication, may drive much of the signal. 3
5. In four breastfeeding mothers taking dextroamphetamine, the infant dose worked out to roughly 5.7% of the weight-adjusted maternal dose, and while most exposed infants showed no problems, a separate study of 13 infants found about 5 had a possible reaction such as sleepiness, fussiness, or constipation, though all scored normally on developmental testing. 4

Is vyvanse safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Prescribed dextroamphetamine use, the compound Vyvanse converts to in the body, hasn't been tied to a higher rate of birth defects above the roughly 3% baseline in any pregnancy, and one study of 130 pregnancies found no clear rise in miscarriage.
• Second trimester. A large population-based study found ADHD medication linked to a higher risk of gestational hypertension and diabetes, though the gap narrowed when researchers compared continuous users against those who'd stopped before pregnancy, suggesting ADHD itself plays a role too. Routine blood pressure and glucose screening cover this either way.
• Third trimester. Newborn withdrawal hasn't been reported in babies of mothers taking dextroamphetamine as prescribed. Let your delivery team know your medication and dose so they know what to expect rather than looking for a problem that prescribed use hasn't shown.