Hi

My wife and I are thinking of having a baby next year.
Iam very concern that my Add medication (dexedrine) might have negative effects on our unborn baby?

So to all the experts - is there any research that might suggest add medication, be detrimental to unborn babies etc?.. (in regards to sperm production etc)

Any info or links regarding research will be greatly appreciated.
Also, If there is evidence to suggest that the medication might be bad, how long will I have to abstain from the medication, before we should try to concieve?


Thanks in advance

from :
http://www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/Dexedrine.asp

...don't know this site ... will try and find out whether this is mentioned in the BNF (British guide) - and then the basis for 'animal studies have shown an adverse effect'

C: Animal studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus, but there are no adequate, clinical studies in humans. Despite potential risks, the drug may be useful in pregnant women.

That probably means that it has been suggested in the discussion of one study - but without appropriate references - it's hard to know.
Certainly the 'adverse effects' bit doesn't sit well with the 'may be useful' bit ... smells a bit stinky to me ... anyhow ...

ok - so this is more informative ...

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/dextroamphetamine_wcp.htm

[I've added these bits] [I]

Pregnancy: Teratogenic Effects: Pregnancy Category C. DEXEDRINE has been shown to have embryotoxic and teratogenic effects when administered to A/Jax mice and C57BL mice in doses approximately 41 [ok - so this is a silly figure ... 41 times we don't care about 1 or 2 times - *yes*] times the maximum human dose. Embryotoxic effects were not seen in New Zealand white rabbits given the drug in doses 7 times [not at 7 times] the human dose nor in rats given 12.5 times the maximum human dose [not at 12.5 times]. While there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, there has been 1 report [that's 1 ! report] of severe congenital bony deformity, tracheoesophageal fistula, and anal atresia (VATER association) in a baby born to a woman who took dextroamphetamine sulfate with lovastatin during the first trimester of pregnancy.
DEXEDRINE should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.[this is a silly sentence - how does one assess benefit, what is the risk really - the evidence above is ridiculous] Nonteratogenic Effects: Infants born to mothers dependent on amphetamines have an increased risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. Also, these infants may experience symptoms of withdrawal as demonstrated by dysphoria, including agitation, and significant lassitude.
[I'd be interested to know how well conducted these studies were - and importantly whether the control group were matched ADDer parents - matched in every aspect other than a cessation in dexedrine during pregnancy - my feeling is that the publisher of this study - may have gone into the study with the mindset that one might expect this kinda' pattern - and so saw it -<- I can't tell though - without detailed examination of the evidence]

Nursing Mothers: Amphetamines are excreted in human milk. Mothers taking amphetamines should be advised to refrain from nursing.



[I'd have to say that my feeling from the above is that it was written from the perspective of an individual fearing stimulant medication - and so giving it a 'watch out !' - 'it may be dangerous' kinda' slant]

These are just google hits - but 2 random clicks have pointed to Category C - so it looks kinda' like this is the medical establishment view on dexedrine - I'm spectacularly unimpressed that issues like a single reported case of a problem - when dex was being taken alongside another drug - are mentioned in this way.

Why?

Because the effect is to worry the 'researcher' - when 1 case in over 50 years - of widespread use of these drugs ... at least to me, doesn't merit concern.

Ever get the feeling that there's a knee-jerk fear of the amphetamines by the rich guys who get to write out our prescriptions?