Taking the pain reliever acetaminophen during pregnancy: good or bad?

Acetaminophen has antipyretic and analgesic effects, but should it be used during pregnancy? 

On August 17–2016, a report regarding problems with the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy indicated that the baby later had behavioral problems. This report has caused some pregnant women to wonder if they should take painkillers.

Another study reported that the drug has been linked to conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome (ADHD) in children, autism syndrome, asthma, or speech retardation.

What is Acetaminophen?

Acetaminophen is the main ingredient in Tylenol and many other pain relievers. This is usually one of the pain relievers that doctors recommend not for pregnant women who are experiencing pain or fever.

Studies on the use of drugs during pregnancy

Regarding the link between this drug and behavioral problems, no expert has yet proven that the drug causes many health problems for mothers, but there must be some link between the two.

On the other hand, researchers say the link between acetaminophen and behavioral problems is slowly being demonstrated. In a 2014 study, scientists found similar effects between acetaminophen use and AHD syndrome symptoms in 871 7–11 year olds.

Research on acetaminophen and behavioral problems

For mothers who took acetaminophen during pregnancy, babies born were 1.4 times more likely to have behavioral difficulty and hyperactivity 1, the scientists said. , 3 times more than other babies.

However, postpartum use of acetaminophen did not affect the baby's behavior. Experts say the risk of acetaminophen increasing the baby's behavioral problems is very small.

The limitation of this study is that it did not investigate the amount of acetaminophen that women used and for how long. Acetaminophen users also did not say why they were taking it.

Some evidence from animal studies suggests that the use of drugs can cause abnormal brain development. Experts have also found a strong link between behavioral problems with acetaminophen used in the third trimester - brain growth and development.

Alarming findings about Acetaminophen

Several previous studies have highlighted maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risks to the baby as follows:

Have a higher risk (1.3 times higher than other children) of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or behavior similar to symptoms of ADHD;

Tend to hyperactivity and impulsive symptoms 1.4 times more than babies whose mothers did not take acetaminophen;

Boys have more autistic symptoms. This study looked at the frequency of acetaminophen and found that the more it used, the higher the risk for the baby;

Use of acetaminophen during pregnancy has been linked to  asthma in 3–7 year olds. These studies also show that untreated pain has the potential to increase asthma.

All of the studies were based on women's use of acetaminophen. The data from the study at least indicate a correlation or association between acetaminophen and asthma, concluding that acetaminophen is not entirely safe for health.

In a 2015 review of the use of pain relievers during pregnancy, including acetaminophen, the FDA argued that the technically limited studies or other problems could not come to any conclusion trust. The agency recommends that pregnant women consult a doctor before taking any prescription or commercially available medications.

Hope this article has provided you with lots of useful information. Wish you take the medicine properly and your baby will be healthy.