Vyvanse and breastfeeding

[cfrm]

I have a 6 week old child. Would it be safe to begin occasionally taking 20mg of Vyvanse if I were to pump and dump during the day when it was at its peak? If so, what would be the ideal number of hours to wait before nursing again?
Thanks...

[cpride]

Dear cfrm,

Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is a prodrug and is rapidly metabolized to dextroamphetamine. Dextroamphetamine apparently transfers into milk avidly. Of the 6 infants studied thus far, no untoward effects have been reported in any infant. If this product is used in breastfeeding mothers, the dose should be kept low (you are on a low dose), and infants should be monitored for agitation, and poor weight gain. Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) is probably preferred as this medication has the least amount that transfers into breastmilk. With normal therapeutic doses, the dose of dextroamphetamine in milk is probably compatible with breastfeeding. The time the medication would be at its highest level in your breastmilk would be three and one-half hours after your dose. The half-life (time it takes for half of the medication to be eliminated) is six and one-half hours. It takes 6 half-lives for all of the medication to be fully eliminated. If you have further questions, please call the InfantRisk Center at 806-352-2519. We are open Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 CST.

Sincerely,
Cindy Pride, MSN, CPNP
TTUHSC InfantRisk Center