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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Children and Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1437328
This article is part of the Research Topic The Impact of Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Particles via Human Breast Milk: A Focus on Health Effects and Underlying Mechanisms View all 6 articles

Quantification of ADHD Medication in Biological Fluids of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women with Liquid Chromatography: A Comprehensive Review

Provisionally accepted
Lena De Hondt Lena De Hondt 1*Charlotte Cosemans Charlotte Cosemans 2Michelle Plusquin Michelle Plusquin 2Debby Mangelings Debby Mangelings 3Ann Van Eeckhaut Ann Van Eeckhaut 1Eline Tommelein Eline Tommelein 1
  • 1 Experimental Pharmacology , Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium
  • 2 Centre for Environmental Sciences, University of Hasselt, Diepenbeek, Limburg, Belgium
  • 3 Department of Analytical Chemistry, Applied Chemometrics and Molecular Modelling, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Jette, Belgium

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has long been considered a concern only in the paediatric population. However, symptoms often sustain into adulthood and may require medication. For women with ADHD, this also means dealing with the disorder during the reproductive period. Medication safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding is a critical concern, and the potential transfer of ADHD medication to infants remains a topic of scientific interest. The quantification of ADHD medications in both maternal blood and breast milk are vital for understanding their pharmacokinetics and potential exposure risks for (nursing) infants. This review aims (1) to compile and critically assess existing research on the transfer of ADHD medications into breast milk and the potential implications for nursing infants and (2) to provide a comprehensive overview and discussion of the literature regarding the quantification of methylphenidate, amphetamine, atomoxetine, viloxazine, guanfacine, clonidine and bupropion in the blood, urine, oral fluid, and breast milk with liquid chromatography. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify relevant articles published from January 2014 up to December 2023. We illustrate the lack of methods to simultaneously monitor multiple ADHD medications as well as the lack of developed methods for breast milk. Finally, we highlight the need for continued research to refine our understanding of medication transfer into breast milk and potential risks, and to develop clinical guidelines to support mothers with ADHD in making informed choices regarding medication use during pregnancy and lactation.

    Keywords: ADHD, Biological liquids, breast milk, Liquid Chromatography, quantification, Dexamphetamine, Methylphenidate, atomoxetine

    Received: 23 May 2024; Accepted: 30 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 De Hondt, Cosemans, Plusquin, Mangelings, Van Eeckhaut and Tommelein. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Lena De Hondt, Experimental Pharmacology , Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.