Brief Answer: This med should be safe. Detailed Answer: Hi, This medication is regularly used in the pediatric population. It is generally considered safe even with breast-feeding. If you feel better and not breast-feeding the days you take the medicine or pumping and dumping those days that is fine. It sounds that you are taking a short acting form. There are at least three forms of this medication: short acting sustained and long-acting. If you're taking a low-dose a couple times a week I really don't think you need to modify your breast feeding regime especially if you're taking the regular release short-acting form. Regards,

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Brief Answer: I can't answer for other doctors. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for writing back. Many doctors are fearful of being sued. They adopt a defensive attitude that if anything happens then they are going to be blamed so it's better to just tell patients not to do anything with even a small potential for risk. I feel comfortable telling you that this medication is used in pediatrics and the bulk of evidence states it is a relatively safe medicine. There is no lining up 100 babies and only giving half Ritalin and then watching to see if they develop any differently from the others fifty. Nothing is risk-free. Do you avoid riding in a car at night in the rain? Half the people on the road don't even bother checking their breaks or tire tread but humans want their medication risk-free. If you're using short acting Ritalin is out of your system in 6 to 8 hours which is why it is a 3 times a day medication. If the day you take Ritalin you avoid giving the baby breastmilk for 10-12 hours then you're not going to pass any Ritalin to the child. you can adjust accordingly. For intermittent (sustained release) acting medication which is out of the system in eight hours 8 to 10 hours you can wait 16-18 and hours. And for that once a day long acting 24 hour mad you can wait a day and a half just to be sure. I don't think it's necessary but that is your choice. I'm confident in the information I'm giving you but I cannot speak for any other physician. I have 25 years of clinical experience, have served as a department chairman, and have been on advisory panels that set national policy. This is a hobby for me because I think people don't have access to experts that can give them accurate information and this is my small way of helping. I hope all this gives you some comfort but in the end it is up to you. You are just embarking on raising a child. People will be trying to tell you what to do including the kid. You must trust yourself. You get the best information that's out there and then finally make a decision. I'm confident that I've given you accurate information but I cannot know your individual comfort zone. Regards,

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Brief Answer: You are very welcome. Detailed Answer: i'm glad you found the information helpful.

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