ADHD Meds and TTC

[maidofspace]

Good afternoon guys!
I wanted to ask on here some views/experiences.
I've been recently signed off titration for my ADHD stimulants. It took a while because Elvanse was okay for weeks and then caused huge side effects a month or so in.
With the Elvanse shortage I was swapped to Amfexa and it's been 1000% better, I'm working better and I've got no side effects two months in. Just got signed off titration today, yay. Amfexa is the same as Elvanse, it's just fast acting and I take it as and when I need it during the day, but it's still Dexamphetamine.

My main issue is we're going to be TTC soon and I know that they don't recommend you being on stimulants when pregnant. However, the only reason they won't recommend it is because there's not enough conclusive data to prove if it has any effects on unborn babies. The only thing people seem to be definitive on is that newborns can suffer withdrawal symptoms, which is absolutely awful. There's data with other stimulants, just nothing on the medical and non-abuse use of (Dex)Amphetamines.

I don't have any plans to fully breastfeed beyond maybe the first couple of days/weeks, so my original plan was always just to come off them when pregnant and go straight back on.

However, and I know this is selfish, but my whole life has changed for the better with my tablets. I have Sundays off due to the appetite supression and I see such a huge difference in the way I am.

If you've been in the situation of being abused, sectioned and misdiagnosed, only to finally find out that it was all wrong and you were ADHD, to then go on meds and see the world how 'normal' people do, you'll know the insane difference these tablets make. So forgive me, it's selfish sounding, but the thought of coming off these tablets is terrifying.

However, I know that you have to take compromises if you want to be a parent.

A fun thing about my tablets is because of the way they work, they're actually used for children primarily, I just take more haha.

Has anyone here gone through pregnancy whilst on ADHD meds, what was your experience?

Please no judgement, especially from people who are not ND/ADHD and not medicated - its like when you take pain meds and the headache lifts, but that's your brain every day and you can think clearly and not be 'weird' etc. My ADHD severely affects my work, my life in general.

I know I need to speak to a clinician but we're not TTC till 2024, so I'm going to keep researching.

Thanks guys~

I have been medicated and unmedicated. My past is maybe not as bumpy. But I do hear your concerns. And have witnessed a lot of trauma.

The one thing that helped me unmedicated was exercise and diet. I wouldn't say I was perfect. My hyperfocus was less controlled. In the summer especially when there is more daylight I can be super hyper then in winter I slump. But the exercise and diet controlled the worst of the mood swings (RSD) that comes with ADHD. Getting enough sleep helps a lot too.

Big no! You have your dosage right, you know there will be light at the end of pregnancy but do not take amphetamines or anything else while trying to or when pregnant.
Amphetamine use in pregnancy may:

• affect your baby’s growth
• lead to miscarriage
• lead to premature labour and birth
• cause bleeding from the site of the placenta (afterbirth)
• end in stillbirth
• reduce blood flow and oxygen to the baby
• increase blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.

https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Amphetamines-2021.pdf

The only thing people seem to be definitive on is that newborns can suffer withdrawal symptoms,

Then it's a no, surely? It has to be.

Thank you for this! I'll chat to my clinician about it.

I super appreciate this but you're looking at the wrong thing. That is for drug abuse of amphetamines for people that don't take them medicinally. I take 20mgs of dexamphetamine, I'm not abusing amphetamines. It's physically impossible for me to abuse them because of how they affect people with ADHD. I can't get addicted either.

Imagine my brain is a cup with 20% water and that water lasts me all day. Everyone else without ADHD has 100% water but I have to struggle on 20%.
What dexamphetamine does is make me 100% and puts my brain on the same function level as a non adhd person.

Like I mentioned, the research on dexamphetamine used medicinally is so minimal.

It is a scary situation for sure, but because I also have bipolar and anxiety on my records I'll be under observation for a few days after birth anyway. Apparently the withdrawal is very short lived and easy to sort, just unpleasant.

I don't want to be putting my baby under any issues that I can prevent, but also I have to look after myself too. Unmedicated can lead to risky situations and I binge eat unhealthy food as a dopamine replacement. I also need extensive caffeine to even stay upright when not medicated, because caffeine affects people with ADHD differently and to feel an "awake" feeling you need to have a huge amount more than the average person, to counter the initial deficit.

It's such a struggle, but that's why I came here, to see if anyone else had gone through pregnancy medicated.

I feel because adhd meds are seen as "speed" that they automatically cause red flags, which is fine, but I guess at the end of the day my clinician will be the only one who will know if I'm safe to come off them after all.

It is a scary situation for sure, but because I also have bipolar and anxiety on my records I'll be under observation for a few days after birth anyway.

Apparently the withdrawal is very short lived and easy to sort, just unpleasant.

But nobody would choose to put a newborn baby through withdrawals?

I'm here with no advice but to offer support to you @maidofspace as OP. I have reached the top of titration waiting list for meds but as we're planning to conceive soon, I've said I don't want to start something that isn't safe purely to avoid this dilemma. I completely understand where you're coming from with what you've said so far. So I'm just here as moral support

No of course not, but it's also not certain that it will happen, just that it has happened, and is the only recorded side effect.

Thank you so so much, it's a really difficult decision and I don't think anyone who hasn't had the benefit of being, essentially "magically" fixed with a tablet like this will really understand the agony.

I'm so happy you're about to go on meds, I cried the first day I was on them. It's like the world finally became clear, all the clouds in my head stopped swirling and the speed of everything just slowed. It's so hard to describe but it's such an overwhelming experience - I'm very excited for you!

Hey I am also really supportive of you and understand your concerns completely, just stating what I know in good faith, so both you and baby are both as safe as possible. I am also a mum with ADD (inattentive) and on Elvanse/ atm amfexa, due to shortage.. Unfortunately, our meds are not different than amphetamines. They are amphetamines. The fact we get them on prescription does not change what they are. 20mg of Amfexa in one go is actually quite a high dose. It is fantastic that it works for you and as I said, during pregnancy, you can always remind yourself that whatever highs or lows you have, they will only be temporary and you can go back to your meds as soon as the baby is out. No pregnancy is the same, even for one person, and it might just be the case that yours, like mine, will be (mostly:) a magic and positive experience. Even if it's not, it will be a very different life experience that most likely than not, will be transformative in many ways. I also drank a lot of coffee before and still drink many coffees a day. During pregnancy I limited that to 3 where I mixed half a spoon of "normal" with half of decaf so I do not go over the 150 limit as I knew that coffein too like any stimulant (amphetamine being a super stimulant) can cause miscarriage. Whatever worries you, there will be a solution. What seems impossible now, will very soon become a breeze (think cleaning the living room 10 times a day after the toddler does all sorts of adventures while making 3 meals, 2 snacks, 2 loads of washing and millions other little things at the same time) The fact that you are contemplating pregnancy is just amazing. Our bodies are the creation of powers much bigger than any human or AI ☺️ Be ready to understand how amazing you truly are. Please do feel free to message me for support at any time and just think of it as the beginning of the most beautiful chapter in your life and focus on the solutions not barriers. All the best X