The most common over-the-counter pain medication used during pregnancy may be linked to autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, or ADHD, in children, according to a new study. The study contributes to a growing body of evidence that has sparked controversy in the scientific community.
Acetaminophen, often sold under the brand name Tylenol, has long been considered the safest option for managing headaches, fever and other pain during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists only recommends taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like Advil, in limited uses during the second trimester, if acetaminophen and other methods don't work.
However, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai looked at studies encompassing over 100,000 participants and found that higher-quality studies tended to find a link between using this pain medication during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, according to the report published Aug. 14 in BMC Environmental Health.
“Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications," said study author Dr. Diddier Prada, assistant professor of population health science and policy, and environmental medicine and climate science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
