New research suggests that taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD, or developmental issues in children. The study, published in a major medical journal, analyzed 43 robust studies involving hundreds of thousands of women and found no link between paracetamol use and increased risk of these conditions.
The findings contradict claims made by US President Donald Trump last year that paracetamol "is no good" for pregnant women and should be avoided. Trump's comments were widely criticized by medical organizations worldwide, who pointed out that the evidence for any potential harm was limited and inconclusive.
According to Professor Asma Khalil, lead study author and consultant obstetrician, "There is no link, there is no association, there's no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism." The review also found that studies with a low risk of bias and those that followed children for more than five years showed no link between paracetamol use and increased risk of these conditions.
The study's findings have been welcomed by medical experts, who say they will help reduce worry among expectant mothers. However, US health officials continue to express concern over the potential risks of paracetamol during pregnancy, citing "many experts" who have raised concerns about its safety.
In contrast, health organizations in the UK and Europe have long recommended paracetamol as a safe option for pregnant women when taken as directed. The study's lead author notes that paracetamol is often the first-line medication recommended for pregnant women in pain or with a fever, and that it remains the safest painkiller available.
The review has also shed light on the complex nature of autism, which experts say is likely the result of a mix of genetic and environmental factors. The study's findings suggest that paracetamol use may not be one of these contributing factors, at least in terms of increased risk of autism or other developmental issues.
The findings contradict claims made by US President Donald Trump last year that paracetamol "is no good" for pregnant women and should be avoided. Trump's comments were widely criticized by medical organizations worldwide, who pointed out that the evidence for any potential harm was limited and inconclusive.
According to Professor Asma Khalil, lead study author and consultant obstetrician, "There is no link, there is no association, there's no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism." The review also found that studies with a low risk of bias and those that followed children for more than five years showed no link between paracetamol use and increased risk of these conditions.
The study's findings have been welcomed by medical experts, who say they will help reduce worry among expectant mothers. However, US health officials continue to express concern over the potential risks of paracetamol during pregnancy, citing "many experts" who have raised concerns about its safety.
In contrast, health organizations in the UK and Europe have long recommended paracetamol as a safe option for pregnant women when taken as directed. The study's lead author notes that paracetamol is often the first-line medication recommended for pregnant women in pain or with a fever, and that it remains the safest painkiller available.
The review has also shed light on the complex nature of autism, which experts say is likely the result of a mix of genetic and environmental factors. The study's findings suggest that paracetamol use may not be one of these contributing factors, at least in terms of increased risk of autism or other developmental issues.
As a parent, I can only imagine how worried expectant mothers must feel when it comes to using medication during pregnancy. This study is a huge win for us parents, and it's awesome that it's set the record straight - paracetamol is NOT going to harm our little ones! 
My husband and I always try to give our kids the best start in life, but with all the misinformation out there, it's nice to have some solid facts. Can we please just focus on making sure our kiddos get the best healthcare possible? 
I mean, come on, can't we just get some real news without all the drama? Like, Trump said paracetamol is bad for pregnant women and now everyone's freaking out... 
Meanwhile, this new study comes along and says, "Hey, actually, it's fine." I don't know what's more exhausting - trying to keep up with these constant updates or dealing with all the misinformation that gets spread. Anyway, I'm just glad some folks are taking a step back and looking at the actual evidence instead of relying on gossip from some rich guy in the White House 
I'm so relieved to hear this news! As a mum myself, it can be super stressful worrying about what meds are safe for our little ones while we're pregnant. I mean, Trump's comments were just ridiculous 
. Can't wait to hear more about this study and its findings! 
and I gotta say, it's a great reminder that just because someone tells us something is bad for us, doesn't mean it is 
. We should always look beyond the noise and actually read the science before jumping to conclusions.
. As a society, we worry about all sorts of things that might not even be a big deal for most people. And when someone with a platform like President Trump speaks out against something, it can get really loud and convincing 
.
. That way, we can make informed decisions for ourselves and our families instead of just following the crowd 
.
... feels like theyre just perpetuating fear for no good reason 
. at least now medical experts can say with more confidence that paracetamol is an okay painkiller for pregnant women 
.
anyway, I think this study is super important because it's gonna calm down all those expectant moms who were freaking out over paracetamol 
. and can you believe trump's comments? like what even is he thinking? 
I'm glad the UK and Europe have been recommending paracetamol for ages, it's always made sense to me - my grandma used to take it all the time when she was pregnant with us 
.
, I thought for sure taking paracetamol during pregnancy would increase the risk of some serious stuff in kids, but it seems like that's not the case 
.
. And yeah, paracetamol is still the safest painkiller option available, so let's just stick with that 
... maybe we can finally start to get a better understanding of what causes it? 
. But it seems like all those concerns were for nothing! It's crazy how one US president can spread misinformation like that... but I guess we're glad to see the truth come out 
. The study's findings are actually really reassuring, especially since paracetamol is already recommended by many health orgs in other countries 
. And yessss, it's great that they've shed some light on autism - it's such a complex topic and I think we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that paracetamol isn't one of the contributing factors 
. Let's hope this study marks the beginning of some much-needed clarity on autism and its causes 
.
about messing up their kid's brain development. its always good to see the truth come out and debunk all those baseless conspiracy theories. i mean who needs trump's opinion on medicine anyway? 
paracetamol being the safe painkiller option for moms in pain or with fever makes total sense to me... 43 studies and all that jazz, sounds legit to me 
according to the study, only low-bias studies with long-term follow-ups showed no correlation between paracetamol use & increased risk of these conditions. 
meanwhile, us health officials are still cautioning against its use... i guess some experts just can't let go of the fear 
. anyway, glad this study is shedding light on the real risks & helping moms relax a bit more 
total number of studies analyzed: 43
. I get it, you want to be safe, but this kind of risk assessment can be super nuanced and not always based on hard facts.
. I mean, the study found no link and all that, but some people just seem to want to err on the side of caution, right? It's good that UK and European health orgs have been recommending paracetamol as safe, though - it's always better to have a solid evidence base when it comes to meds and pregnancy 
i mean, come on, the study just came out and it already proved him wrong lol. but honestly, its about time we get some facts over misinformation. medical experts are always right in the end, and this study is a huge relief for expectant moms everywhere. 43 studies and hundreds of thousands of women? that's some solid research right there!