A new study offers reassuring news for individuals who take migraine medications during pregnancy. According to research published on May 21 in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, there is no evidence that using triptans—common drugs used to treat migraine attacks—before or during pregnancy increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism or ADHD in children.
The study, led by Dr. Hedvig Nordeng of the University of Oslo, Norway, followed over 26,000 pregnancies in people diagnosed with migraine at the start of pregnancy. Using data from national health registries in Norway, researchers tracked outcomes for children born to these individuals, some of whom had used triptans during or before pregnancy.
Among those studied, more than 80%—or 21,281 people—had used triptans in the year prior to becoming pregnant. Researchers grouped the users into four categories based on how frequently and when they took the medication. They then monitored the children for up to 14 years, with an average follow-up period of eight years.
Of the children studied, 4.3%—a total of 1,140—were diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder. ADHD and speech and language disorders were the most common. However, the rates of these diagnoses were nearly identical between children whose parents had high triptan use and those whose parents had migraine but did not use the drugs. For example, ADHD was diagnosed in 2.2% of children in the highest triptan-use group, compared to 2.1% in the non-triptan group. Speech and language disorders were reported in 1.1% and 1.0% of those groups, respectively.
After adjusting for other risk factors—such as family history of neurodevelopmental disorders, folic acid intake, and use of other medications—researchers found no increased risk associated with triptan exposure during pregnancy.
Dr. Nordeng noted that nearly one in five people of childbearing age suffer from migraines, and while many experience symptom relief during pregnancy, about 8% report worsening attacks. These severe episodes can raise the risk of complications for both parent and baby, making safe treatment options essential.
One limitation of the study was that researchers could only confirm prescription records, not actual medication use, which may affect the accuracy of drug exposure estimates.
Still, the findings provide valuable guidance for healthcare providers and patients managing migraine during pregnancy.
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