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Extensive scientific study refutes claims: There is no link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism risk

2025-11-10 19:50:03Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
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A large scientific review published in the British Medical Journal has refuted claims that using paracetamol during pregnancy could increase the risk of children developing autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The publication was accelerated after statements by Donald Trump's administration, which had warned pregnant women to avoid using this drug, also known as acetaminophen or Tylenol, linking it to the increase in autism cases in the US.

In a White House speech in September, the US president urged women to "fight at all costs not to take" paracetamol during pregnancy, sparking concern in the medical community.

What did the study reveal?

According to a review published by a group of scientists at the University of Liverpool, there is no reliable evidence linking paracetamol to autism or ADHD.

The analysis included nine systematic reviews covering 40 observational studies on the use of this drug during pregnancy and its potential effects on children's neurological development.

According to Professor Shakila Thangaratinam, an obstetrician and lead author of the study, the quality of most of these reviews was “low or critically low.” She emphasizes that any apparent link between paracetamol and autism “is most likely explained by family genetic factors or pre-existing maternal health conditions, rather than the drug itself.”

"Women should know that existing evidence does not support a real link between paracetamol and autism or ADHD," Thangaratinam told The Guardian.

"If a pregnant woman has a fever or pain, we recommend using paracetamol, as high fevers can be very dangerous for the baby."

Alternatives like ibuprofen, she reminded, are not recommended during pregnancy.

Family and genetic factors in the spotlight

One of the analyses included in the review, covering 2.4 million children in Sweden, had initially found a slight association between paracetamol use and diagnoses of autism, ADHD and intellectual disability.

But when the researchers compared siblings exposed to and not exposed to the drug, the effect disappeared.

This suggests that genetic factors and shared health conditions within families may be responsible for any perceived risk.

"If there is a family history of autism or ADHD, that is more likely to be the reason for the diagnosis, rather than the fact that the mother took paracetamol during pregnancy," Thangaratinam added.

Safety message for mothers

The results, according to the authors, should provide reassurance to women who feel guilty about using paracetamol during pregnancy.

"We don't want a mother to think that her child is autistic because of something she did during pregnancy," Thangaratinam stressed.

"There is nothing in the current evidence to suggest that paracetamol causes autism or ADHD."

Professor Dimitrios Siassakos, an obstetrician at University College London, supported this stance, calling paracetamol "the safest medicine for use during pregnancy."

"The use of paracetamol is common practice worldwide and has not been shown to have any negative impact on children's neurological development," he said. "In fact, not treating fever and inflammation may be more harmful to the baby."

The study sheds light on a debate that has become political, but which is essentially a scientific issue. The bottom line is clear: pregnant women can safely use paracetamol to treat pain or fever, always under the care of a doctor, without fear of endangering the mental health of their child.


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