I am currently on Ritalin and my husband and I want to get pregnant but I am scared because my job requires focus and attention to detail (which is how I was diagnosed w/ ADD, my job was suffering).  I dont want to harm the baby by taking the medication but I dont want to jeopordize my job either. 

The stuff I read on Ritalin is not comforting enough for me to take it while I am pregnant.  Has anyone else been in this situation.  Any ideas?  I do have an appt w/ my obgyn on Tues 2/22.

You are best to talk to your OB about this. I am on dexedrine (same idea as Ritalin that it is a stimulant) and I wouldn't feel comfortable at all taking a stimulant while pg - I'd rather suffer and get a lot of cognitive therapy during that 9 months.

Just my two cents! But there are a few people who have been on this board enquring the same thing, so when you get back from your OB can you update us on what he/she says about Ritalin and pregnancy? I think there are a lot of people who could benefit from that info!

:o)

Thanks Stormy for sharing your experience with us!   :o) :o)

Is there anyone else out there that can add to this thread? :o)

Good luck!!!

I  hope your appointment went well today!

I am on Lexapro and Ritalin, and I asked my shrink about the meds as my husband and I are thinking about babies - thinking only...  My concern is the same - I can't imagine having to do my job without Ritalin - I know my work would suffer, as it was before I went on the Ritalin.

Anyway, my shrink said that during the first trimester would be the time not to take it since that is when the majority of brain development is done in the fetus.  He said after that it would probably be OK and he didn't know of any publiushed issues with taking it during pregnancy.  He said I could stay on the Lexapro the whole time.  He also said to discuss with my ob/gyn (who I see in April) about it to see their thoughts since they are the experts. 

So, that's what I know, but I would be VERY interested in what you found out today! 

Take care.

Well, I would think, that if you are TTC and if you were to start charting (if you aren't already) and know your cycle and see those signs on the fertility chart that you could possibly be pg combined with the early early pg tests (ie First response) then you could stop taking it basically as soon as you found out.

In your situation, what I would do is chart, use fertility monitors and stock up on First Response Early pg tests (I know they are expensive, but they are the best IMHO) and that way like I said, you can stop your meds ASAP when the test is +. That way, the embryo would really only have been exposed to maybe a few days of medication, which really isn't much. If you think about how women are pg and don't know the first few weeks and they are having a few drinks or taking certain medications and everything still turns out fine. I know for me, my daughter was a surprise (a wonderful surprise at that! :D) and the night before I found out I was pg I was out with my girlfriends at a pub and had quite a few drinks and was also smoking all night too and my daughter was perfectly okay.

Let us know it goes! (~*~*~*~*and I'm also sending lots of babydust your way!!*~*~*~)