Groundbreaking Review Clears Paracetamol
A comprehensive new analysis has found no convincing connection between taking paracetamol during pregnancy and children developing autism or ADHD. This major review, published today in the British Medical Journal, directly addresses controversial claims that have caused concern among expectant mothers.
The research publication was highly anticipated after the Trump administration urged pregnant women to use paracetamol sparingly, recommending only 'the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.' Speaking at the White House in September, Donald Trump advised pregnant women to 'tough it out' and 'fight like hell' against taking the medication, claiming it contributed to rising autism rates.
What the Research Actually Shows
Paracetamol remains the NHS's 'first choice' painkiller for pregnant women, with approximately half of UK mothers using it during pregnancy. In the United States, this figure rises to around 65 percent.
While autism diagnosis rates are increasing dramatically - with nearly 130,000 under-18s currently on waiting lists for assessments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic - experts confirm this crisis stems from improved diagnosis methods rather than paracetamol use.
The University of Liverpool-led team conducted the largest review to date, analysing nine previous systematic reviews that included 40 observational studies involving millions of participants. The researchers concluded that the quality of existing scientific reviews ranged from 'low to critically low' and found that any apparent connection between the painkiller and neurodevelopmental conditions was likely explained by genetics and other environmental factors.
Professor Shakila Thangaratinam, a consultant obstetrician and the study's lead author, emphasised: 'Women should know that the existing evidence does not really support a link between paracetamol and autism and ADHD.'
Expert Guidance for Expectant Mothers
Professor Thangaratinam provided clear advice for pregnant women: 'If pregnant women need to take paracetamol for fever or pain then we would say please do, particularly because high fever in pregnancy could be dangerous to the unborn baby.'
The review highlighted that while some studies suggested a tentative connection, over 75 percent of these studies urged caution in interpreting their data because they couldn't rule out other contributing factors.
Only one review included studies that accounted for genetics and shared family factors. When researchers compared findings against sibling controls, the paracetamol effect disappeared, suggesting maternal genetics, underlying health conditions, or socio-environmental factors were responsible for any increased risk.
Professor Thangaratinam explained: 'If there's a family history of autism and ADHD, either in the parents or the siblings, then it is likely that that is the reason a child is diagnosed rather than something the mother took during pregnancy.'
The researchers hope their findings will reassure mothers who have taken paracetamol during pregnancy, stressing that 'the current evidence base is insufficient to definitively link in utero exposure to paracetamol with autism and ADHD in childhood.'
Given that alternative painkillers like ibuprofen can cause serious complications in pregnancy, including premature closure of the ductus arteriosus in the heart, researchers maintain that women 'should be advised to take paracetamol when needed in pregnancy.'
Professor Dimitrios Siassakos, an honorary consultant in obstetrics at University College London, confirmed this review supports what global experts have been saying: 'Paracetamol is the safest medication to use in pregnancy, and has been used by the majority of pregnant women globally for several decades without any impact on autism and ADHD.'
