Many women with migraine worry about taking their medications during pregnancy. Migraine drugs in the triptan family (like sumatriptan, rizatriptan, etc.) are very effective for stopping attacks, but questions have remained about their safety for the developing baby. Now, a large new study published in Neurology (June 2025) provides reassuring evidence that prenatal exposure to triptans does not lead to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children (such as autism or ADHD). This finding is encouraging news for expectant mothers who rely on these medications for migraine relief.
Researchers in Norway examined over 26,000 pregnancies among women with migraine, tracking their children’s health from birth up to 14 years of age. About four in five of these mothers had used a triptan migraine medication in the year before or during pregnancy, while the rest did not. The study grouped the women by how much they used triptans – some stopped before pregnancy, some used only in early pregnancy, and others continued with moderate or high use through pregnancy. The children’s medical records were then followed for diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning or intellectual disabilities, and speech or motor delays.
The overall rate of neurodevelopmental issues was low in all groups. Only about 4% of the children were diagnosed with any such disorder by the time of follow-up, whether or not their mother took triptans. Importantly, children exposed to triptans in the womb were not more likely to have developmental disorders than those whose mothers didn’t use these medications. For example, rates of ADHD and of speech/language delays were nearly identical in both groups. There was a slight uptick in autism diagnoses among children whose mothers had the highest triptan use, but this difference was very small (less than a one percent difference) and not statistically significant, meaning it could have been due to chance. In absolute terms, the risk remained low. In other words, the new research found no clear evidence that prenatal triptan exposure harms children’s development into childhood and adolescence.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence that triptans are generally safe medications, even beyond pregnancy. I have previously discussed on this blog the overall safety profile of triptans – for instance, noting that these migraine-specific drugs do not appear to increase the risk of stroke or heart attack in otherwise healthy users, and that some patients can even use daily triptans long-term without significant side effects. Many physicians and patients have been cautious with triptans due to old concerns about cardiovascular issues or overuse headaches. However, research and clinical experience continue to show that triptans are well-tolerated and safe for most people when used appropriately.
In many European countries, triptans have been sold over the counter, without a prescription, for over a decade. They are arguably safer than ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and caffeine/aspirin/acetaminophen combination (Excedrin).
