‘Safe’ painkiller in pregnancy could cause autism and ADHD

One of the world’s most common painkillers could be causing ADHD and autism.

Tylenol (acetaminophen), marketed as paracetamol outside the US, is the most common painkiller women take during pregnancy—but the drug can cause neurological damage in their unborn child, which manifests as autism or ADHD (attention deficit, hyperactive disorder), say researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

The researchers analysed 46 studies that involved more than 100,000 pregnant women who took the painkiller and found an association between the drug and neurological problems in the child.

Acetaminophen can cross the placental barrier and may trigger oxidative stress, disrupt hormones, and cause epigenetic changes that interfere with fetal brain development, the researchers say.

Around half of all pregnant women take acetaminophen to relieve pain and fever, and they have been told the over-the-counter remedy is a safe option—but they may now have to rethink that advice and perhaps look for alternatives.

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