Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 17: A comprehensive new study has found that taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disability in children, adding to growing scientific evidence supporting the drug’s safety and countering recent claims made by US President Donald Trump.
At a White House event in September, Trump had urged expectant mothers to avoid acetaminophen — commonly known as paracetamol — suggesting they should “tough it out” instead of using the medication. The remarks sparked debate, given the widespread medical use of the drug during pregnancy.
Paracetamol is the most frequently prescribed painkiller and fever reducer for pregnant women worldwide and is recommended as a first-line treatment due to its comparatively safer profile than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or opioids. It is also listed on the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List.
The latest findings come from a large systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health. The analysis reviewed data from 43 studies and found no credible evidence linking prenatal paracetamol exposure to neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
“Our analysis found no association between maternal paracetamol use during pregnancy and the risk of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, or intellectual disability,” said Prof Asma Khalil of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St George’s University Hospitals in the UK, who served as the study’s corresponding author. She added that the results remained consistent even when focusing on long-term follow-up studies, sibling-comparison designs, and research with a low risk of bias.
Researchers from the UK, Italy and Sweden noted that earlier studies suggesting potential risks were likely influenced by confounding factors such as maternal illness, fever, genetic predisposition, or environmental influences, rather than a direct effect of paracetamol itself.
The authors also warned that avoiding paracetamol during pregnancy could carry its own dangers. Untreated pain or fever has been associated with adverse outcomes, including miscarriage, premature birth and certain congenital conditions.
Regulatory bodies around the world, including the European Medicines Agency, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and Health Canada, continue to endorse the use of paracetamol during pregnancy when taken as directed, reinforcing its long-standing role in obstetric care.