When we talk about Adderall and breastfeeding, it's important to know that Adderall can pass into breast milk. Adderall, commonly used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, isn’t completely off-limits for breastfeeding1 , but it needs to be managed wisely.
According to Hale's Medications & Mothers' Milk, 2021: A Manual of Lactational Pharmacology, breastfeeding people can take stimulant medications like Adderall. Timing plays a big role in this; taking the medication immediately after nursing and waiting several hours before the next feed can help reduce the amount your baby is exposed to.
One study2 showed that infants didn’t experience significant side effects when exposed to amphetamines, like Adderall, through breast milk—however, the sample size was extremely small, and the effects of infant neurological development aren’t well studied.
If you’ve been prescribed amphetamines, it’s critical to talk with your healthcare provider about taking them while breastfeeding.