Psych Congress NetworkMethylphenidate or Atomoxetine Maintenance Safe During Pregnancy

A recent meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open examined pregnancy outcomes in women taking methylphenidate or atomoxetine for ADHD treatment. The study analyzed data from 10 studies encompassing more than 16.6 million pregnancies, including 30,830 women with ADHD, finding no significant increase in congenital anomalies or miscarriages compared to untreated pregnancies or the general population.

Key Points:

• The systematic review analyzed studies from PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases through December 2023, focusing on observational studies comparing pregnancy outcomes across treatment groups.
• For congenital anomalies, treated vs. untreated pregnancies showed OR 1.14 (95% CI, 0.83-1.55; P = .41), while treated vs. general population showed OR 1.19 (95% CI, 0.93-1.53; P = .16).
• Miscarriage rates showed similar results: treated vs. untreated OR 1.01 (95% CI, 0.70-1.47; P = .96) and treated vs. general population OR 1.05 (95% CI, 0.81-1.37; P = .70).
• Study limitations included potential variations in the definition of congenital anomalies across different studies.
• Researchers emphasized the need for additional studies to support pregnant women with ADHD in maintaining treatment benefits while ensuring pregnancy safety.

In a study of 3,389,383 patients diagnosed with ADHD from 2010 through 2022, the percentage of women newly diagnosed with ADHD between 23–29 and 30–49 years of age nearly doubled from 2020 to 2022. (Epic Research)

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