The Medicine We Thought Was Safe
13 days ago
- #neurodevelopment
- #pregnancy
- #acetaminophen
- Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is widely considered safe during pregnancy, with half of pregnant women using it.
- A 2025 study by Prada et al. analyzed 46 high-quality studies linking prenatal acetaminophen use to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) like ADHD and autism.
- 27 studies found significant links between acetaminophen and ADHD/ASD, while 9 found no association and 4 suggested protective effects (though weaker methodologically).
- Higher-quality studies showed stronger associations, with ADHD risks increasing by 20-28% in some cohorts and doubling with long-term use.
- ASD links were subtler but still present, with a 21% higher combined risk of ADHD/ASD in a large European study.
- Other NDDs showed scattered impairments in attention, impulsivity, and executive function, even without full diagnoses.
- The study urges pregnant women to limit acetaminophen use to protect fetal neurodevelopment, challenging its 'safe default' status.
- The research highlights gaps in medical guidance, where 'safe' assumptions may rely on incomplete evidence.