Migraine medications during pregnancy do not affect the neurodevelopment of babies.

A study published in the journal Neurology concludes that the use of triptans, drugs used to treat migraines, during pregnancy does not increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. This finding offers reassurance to both patients and medical professionals regarding the use of these medications during pregnancy.

The study, conducted in Norway, analyzed more than 26,000 pregnancies registered nationwide, including women diagnosed with migraines early in pregnancy. It assessed whether prenatal exposure to triptans, commonly used to treat acute migraine attacks, was associated with an increased risk of developing disorders such as autism, ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), language difficulties, or learning disabilities in offspring up to the age of 14.

The results showed no increased risk of these disorders among children exposed to triptans in utero, even after adjusting for confounding factors such as family history, use of other medications, and use of supplements such as folic acid.

"This study reassures patients and physicians about the long-term safety of triptans, but it doesn't change their official contraindication during pregnancy," Robert Belvís, director of the Headache Unit at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and coordinator of the Headache Study Group of the Spanish Society of Neurology, told SMC.

Although triptans are currently contraindicated during pregnancy in their European data sheet—due to the absence of pregnant women in initial clinical trials—it is common for women who are already taking them to become pregnant unknowingly and continue using them during the first weeks of pregnancy.

" Migraine symptoms can even worsen in 8% of pregnant women ," adds Belvís.

The new study complements previous research that has already demonstrated the safety of these drugs with respect to childbirth and neonatal health, but this is the first time that robust evidence has been provided regarding their long-term safety in children's neurological development.

One of the study's authors, Hedvig Nordeng of the University of Oslo , highlights the importance of the finding: "These results are encouraging for migraine sufferers who may be taking these medications before they know they are pregnant. They also help doctors make more informed decisions about treating migraine attacks during pregnancy."

The researchers clarify that the study was based on medical prescription records, so actual drug use could not be verified. Furthermore, the diagnoses considered were clinical disorders confirmed by professionals; subclinical symptoms were not assessed through specific psychological testing.