Hi,
I couldn’t find any newsgroups specifically dealing with the effect of
drugs on pregnancy so I’m going to ask my question here. If anybody is
aware of a more appropriate venue, I would appreciate the information.
Anyway, I am a young woman with Narcolepsy. I have consequently been
prescribed Ritalin and have been taking it for over a year. The
difference that it has made in my life is quite incredible and I am
extremely reluctant to forsake it.
However, I am also about to be married and we are thinking about
pregnancy. This poses obvious problems and I would like to find as much
information as possible about the effects of Ritalin on developing
fetuses and of breast-fed babies. I have been advised everything from
"go off it now", to "don’t worry: stay on it for your whole pregnancy."
I would like to have some references for studies (if they exist) which
would give some indications either way.
If anybody has any information, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you
Lynn
In article <Ct3uIr….@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca>,
Lynn Stothers <ldsto…@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
>>However, I am also about to be married and we are thinking about
>pregnancy. This poses obvious problems and I would like to find as much
>information as possible about the effects of Ritalin on developing
>fetuses and of breast-fed babies. I have been advised everything from
>"go off it now", to "don’t worry: stay on it for your whole pregnancy."
>I would like to have some references for studies (if they exist) which
>would give some indications either way.
Hi…One source which is often very helpful for medication/breast-
feeding questions is the La Leche League of America…They have the
resources to help suggest alternative medications and/or to suggest
doctors who can help you….
Good Luck,
Meg
Whoops..mea culpa.. In a previous post I suggested someone get in
touch with La Leche League of America….that last part is wrong..
my brain must have short-circuited…La Leche League is an international
group of Breastfeeding mothers and lactation experts…
Meg
According to Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference, 1993 edition, ritalin
is listed as ‘pregnancy catagory C’. This means that animal studies
have shown adverse effects to the developing fetus but no human
studies are available; the drug is given to pregnant women only
‘after risks to the fetus are considered’.
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Camilla Cracchiolo, RN cami…@netcom.com Los Angeles, CA
Shrine of the Cybernetic Madonna BBS 213-766-1356
"The BBS for the information addict!"
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