A recent study has raised concerns about the safety of acetaminophen during pregnancy, with researchers finding a link between its use and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The study, which tracked 307 Black women during their pregnancy, found that those who used acetaminophen were more than three times as likely to give birth to children with ADHD.
The findings suggest that exposure to acetaminophen in the womb may be associated with a higher risk of ADHD in early childhood. For daughters, this risk increased by six times. However, it’s essential to note that these results are not conclusive and should not alarm pregnant women who rely on acetaminophen for pain or fever.
The benefits of acetaminophen must be balanced by its risks, but the long-term consequences are less well-researched. Pediatrician Sheela Sathyanarayana argues that the medication’s safety needs to be reevaluated due to a lack of research on fetal exposures and long-term neurodevelopmental impacts.
The FDA has maintained that acetaminophen poses minimal risk when used in low doses as needed during pregnancy. However, researchers are calling for more research to confirm these findings. The study’s limitations, including its small sample size, may not be robust enough to change officials’ opinions.
Despite the controversy, an international team of scientists is urging “precautionary action” and recommending that pregnant women be cautious when using acetaminophen unless it’s medically indicated.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/worlds-most-common-painkiller-during-pregnancy-linked-to-adhd