Methylphenidate and pregnancy
Methylphenidate is not often taken in pregnancy as there's not much information about its safety.
If you're already taking it and it helps you manage to do everyday activities, then you may decide that the benefits outweigh any possible risks.
Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist about the risks and benefits of continuing methylphenidate.
Methylphenidate and breastfeeding
If your baby is healthy, you can take methylphenidate while you're breastfeeding.
There's not much information about taking methylphenidate while breastfeeding but what there is shows that it only passes into breast milk in tiny amounts. Your baby will not be able to take in a lot of methylphenidate.
It's very rare for breastfed babies to have side effects from medicines you're taking. But it's important to keep monitoring your baby if you're taking any medicine while breastfeeding.
Contact your healthcare professional or call 111 as soon as possible if your baby:
- is not feeding as well as usual or not putting on weight as you would expect
- is being irritable
- is being sick or has diarrhoea
- is not sleeping as well as normal
- is having skin problems, including a rash
If your baby has any symptoms that are not listed, or if you're worried about them, you can also call 111 or contact any healthcare professional.
Carry on taking the medicine, and keep breastfeeding as usual until you've got advice about your baby's symptoms.
Methylphenidate and fertility
There's no evidence to suggest that methylphenidate affects fertility in men or women.
However, speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant. They may want to review your treatment.
Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:
- trying to get pregnant
- pregnant
- breastfeeding