Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy Not Clearly linked to Autism,ADHD,New Review Finds
WASHINGTON D.C. – A extensive review of nine previously published studies has found no conclusive evidence linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy to an increased risk of autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The findings, released recently, add to a growing body of research questioning a direct causal relationship between the common pain reliever and neurodevelopmental conditions.
The debate surrounding acetaminophen use in pregnancy stems from observational studies suggesting a correlation, prompting concern among expectant mothers and medical professionals. However, the new review indicates that initial associations were likely influenced by shared familial, genetic, and environmental factors, as well as unmeasured variables, rather than acetaminophen itself.This highlights a critical gap in research regarding medication safety during pregnancy and underscores the urgent need for more targeted studies.
Dr. Samantha Thangaratinam, a researcher involved in the review, explained that many of the analyses examined relied on the same underlying studies, perhaps inflating perceived risk. The researchers assessed the confidence in the findings of these nine reviews as “low” or “critically low,” meaning the conclusions may not be reliable or comprehensive.
“It’s very likely the association that was initially observed was driven by shared familial, genetic and environmental factors, and also unmeasured factors, rather than driven by acetaminophen use in pregnancy,” Thangaratinam stated.
The lack of robust data on drug safety during pregnancy is a meaningful issue, according to Thangaratinam. She noted that pregnant women are often excluded from clinical trials, limiting the availability of medications proven safe and effective for this population.
“One of the reasons why paracetamol is one of the few drugs we can give [to pregnant women] is there is not much research in the safety of drugs in pregnancy, and a lot of the medications, when they’re in the trial phase, pregnant women are actually excluded,” she said. “Which means pregnant women [may] never actually have an opportunity to access the drugs that actually could help make them better. … So there need to be a focus on drug discovery, as well as in science, in pregnancy.”
The review, published in November 2025, emphasizes the need for increased investment in research focused on the safety of medications used during pregnancy to ensure optimal care for both mothers and their developing children. The research was conducted by Nathan Howard of Reuters.
