Taking paracetamol while pregnant is safe, and there's no evidence it raises the risk of autism, ADHD, and developmental issues in children, according to experts behind a significant new review.
Pregnant women should feel reassured by the findings, which contradict controversial claims from former U.S. President Donald Trump last year that paracetamol is no good and that pregnant women should fight like hell not to take it.
His views were heavily criticized by medical organizations worldwide. This comprehensive review, published in a Lancet journal, is deemed rigorous, potentially ending the debate over the medication's safety. However, U.S. health officials maintain that many experts have cautioned against its use during pregnancy.
The U.S. President sparked considerable concern among doctors when he asserted that paracetamol—known as acetaminophen in the U.S.—might be linked to autism in children if taken during pregnancy. These remarks led to widespread confusion and prompted this new research.
Published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women's Health, the study examined 43 robust studies on paracetamol use during pregnancy, involving hundreds of thousands of women, comparing pregnancies of those who took the drug to those who did not.
Using high-quality studies of siblings allowed researchers to dismiss other factors such as genetic and environmental differences, establishing their findings as gold-standard. The analysis focused on studies with a low risk of bias that monitored children beyond five years for any potential links.
The lead author, Professor Asma Khalil, a consultant obstetrician, stated, When we did this analysis, we found no links; there was no association. There's no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism. She emphasized that paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as directed.
This reassures guidance from major medical organizations in the UK, US, and Europe on the safety of this common painkiller. Any previously reported associations between the drug and autism risk appear to stem from other factors rather than a direct effect of paracetamol itself.
Health experts assert that failing to address high fevers or pain with paracetamol during pregnancy could pose potential harm to the baby, increasing risks of miscarriage, premature birth, or developmental complications.
Medical professionals not involved in the research welcomed the findings, stating they would alleviate concerns among expectant mothers. Professor Grainne McAlonnan from King’s College London highlighted the importance of relieving stress about the medicine commonly used for headaches and its potential impacts on child health.
The study emphasizes the need for clarity as the connection between autism and paracetamol remains disputed amidst various opinions. It is widely accepted among researchers that autism arises from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
A spokesman from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services noted ongoing concerns among many experts regarding the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy. However, health authorities continue to advocate that paracetamol remains the safest painkiller available to pregnant women.
