New concerns about popular drugs
Acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, has long been considered a safe fever-reducing, pain reliever for pregnant women. In the US, more than half of pregnant women have used them at least once during their pregnancy. However, recently, some federal health officials have expressed concerns about the possibility that the drug is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
On September 22, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that pregnant women should only take acetaminophen when they really need it, especially in cases of high fever. At the same time, the FDA stressed that there is currently no evidence to confirm the drug causing autism.
Dr. Steven Fleischman, President of the American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), said: Conditions that pregnant women often use acetaminophen for treatment, such as high fever or preeclampsia, are much more dangerous than the hypothetical risk. If left untreated, they can threaten the lives of both mother and child."
Scientific evidence is still controversial
In August, a study that summarized 46 works on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy showed a possible link to autism. However, the group of authors also affirmed that the results were not certain.
We do not encourage abuse, but using it several times during pregnancy is probably not harmful, explains Dr Ann Bauer, an epidemiologist at the University of Massachusetts. Pregnant women should take the lowest dose, within the shortest time and as directed by the doctor".
Many other experts believe that current research is still limited due to its dependence on self-reported data. We see people who are high in acetaminophen have a higher risk of child development of ADHD, but that does not mean that it is a direct treatment for disorders, says Dr Brennan Senior, Children's Hospital Seattle.
A large-scale study in Sweden in 2024 also did not find a clear difference in the rate of autism between Pregnancies with and without acetaminophen. Autism is largely driven by genetic factors, emphasizes Dr Brian Lee, professor of epidemiology at Drexel University. When genetic and environmental control is controlled, the risk is almost gone."
When should you take Tylenol?
Doctors recommend that pregnant women should only take Tylenol when they really need it, for example to reduce high fever or reduce pain in the short term. The drug is less effective for chronic pain or back pain, so overuse is not necessary.
The important thing is not an absolute ban, but a change in habits, Dr. Bau emphasizes. Not all mild pain requires Tylenol".
In the context of conflicting scientific evidence, the general advice is: consult a doctor before using, and always prioritize low doses and a short time.
