Acetaminophen use During Pregnancy Linked to ADHD in Children
A recent study found a link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and diagnosis with ADHD, and other behavior disorders in children. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and is found in hundreds of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The study does not show a causal relationship between the drug and the disorders, so more research is needed to determine if acetaminophen can still be considered safe for use during pregnancy.
The Study
The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, on February 24, 2014, followed over 64,000 children and mothers enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort during 1996-2002. More than half of the mothers interviewed said they had used acetaminophen during pregnancy. The children of women who used the drug during pregnancy had an increased risk of:
- Diagnosis with hyperkinetic disorder (HKD)
- Using ADHD medications
- Having ADHD-like behaviors at the age of seven
HKD has very similar symptoms to ADHD, but is more severe.
The risk increased the more the mothers took acetaminophen. Children of women who had taken the drug for 20 weeks or more were 50% more likely to be prescribed ADHD medications.
Keeping Your Baby Safe
This recent study was not conducted in a way that it could show whether or not acetaminophen causes ADHD and other behavior disorders, but was able to show a link. It is not the first study which suggest that acetaminophen is not as safe in pregnancy as once believed. An earlier study found a link between the drug and autism.
Women should talk to their doctors about possible alternatives to taking the drug.
