Taking Tylenol Whereas Pregnant Is Safer Than Untreated Fevers, Docs Say

Why It is Harmful to Keep away from Tylenol Whereas Pregnant

By Rachel Fieldhouse & Nature journal

Researchers are involved about what’s going to occur ought to pregnant ladies observe US President Donald Trump’s recommendation to keep away from the painkiller Tylenol — additionally known as paracetamol and acetaminophen. In an deal with on the White Home on September 22, Trump claimed the medicine is linked to autism and different long-term neurodevelopmental situations within the creating baby. However specialists warn that avoiding the drug when it’s wanted might place ladies and their fetus at even higher danger.

Paracetamol is likely one of the most generally used medicine throughout being pregnant and is mostly thought-about protected. It’s generally used to alleviate ache and cut back fevers, together with these brought on by viral infections such because the widespread chilly and bacterial infections that trigger urinary-tract or kidney situations.

On Monday, the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced that acetaminophen merchandise would have a brand new warning label that lists a doable affiliation between taking the drug and an elevated likelihood of consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD) and autism in kids. FDA commissioner Marty Makary stated in a press release that the change “might lead many to keep away from utilizing acetaminophen throughout being pregnant.” Trump was extra direct: “Battle like hell to not take it,” he stated.

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The recommendation has been rejected by physicians, medical organizations and well being regulators in lots of international locations, together with the American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the UK Medication and Healthcare merchandise Regulatory Company and the Australian Therapeutic Items Administration. The World Well being Group stated in a press release that there is no such thing as a “conclusive scientific proof confirming a doable hyperlink.” The drivers of ADHD and autism are complicated and genetics performs a big half.

Untreated fever

However there may be proof that leaving a fever untreated, notably whether it is excessive (above 39.1 °C) or lasts longer than 24 hours, raises the danger of destructive outcomes throughout being pregnant, says Debra Kennedy, a ladies’s well being researcher on the College of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. “It’s been related to an elevated danger of miscarriage and a few start defects,” she provides, together with spinal and coronary heart defects and irregular facial options. Girls mustn’t should be in discomfort from ache or a fever unnecessarily when there is no such thing as a convincing proof that taking paracetamol will trigger hurt to their baby.

There may be some proof that untreated excessive temperatures throughout being pregnant may improve the prospect of autism and psychiatric problems equivalent to schizophrenia, as a result of they’ll intrude with fetal mind improvement. Kennedy warns that elevating worry round paracetamol use might additionally lead ladies to make use of ache aid that’s not as protected. “I undoubtedly assume there might be some ladies who might be reluctant to take paracetamol throughout being pregnant due to these statements,” she says, including that different medical doctors have begun asking her for assets to supply to ladies expressing considerations about taking paracetamol throughout being pregnant.

Restricted choices

Different pain-relief choices have increased and well-established dangers of hurt when taken throughout being pregnant, says Alex Polyakov, an obstetrician and researcher on the College of Melbourne, Australia. These embody aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and indomethacin, a category of painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicine. Research have linked the usage of NSAIDs within the first trimester to an elevated danger of miscarriage. Taking these medicine in the course of the third trimester can have an effect on fetal kidney operate and cut back the quantity of amniotic fluid across the child, growing the danger of poor lung improvement or stiff joints. Utilizing NSAIDs throughout later being pregnant may trigger the early closure of a gap between two blood vessels from the guts which may result in life-threatening respiratory points after the infant is born.

A few of these various painkillers are nonetheless prescribed throughout being pregnant, however typically at decrease doses than standard, says Kennedy. For instance, low-dose aspirin is prescribed to cut back the danger of pre-eclampsia, which causes hypertension and may cut back the quantity of oxygen and vitamins the fetus receives.

One huge difficulty is an absence of drug trials that embody pregnant folks, which means that it’s unknown whether or not many medicines are protected to take throughout being pregnant. This makes some clinicians hesitant to prescribe some medicine and that ladies generally cease or keep away from medicines they want or terminate their being pregnant out of worry they’re harming the fetus. “Together with pregnant ladies in well-designed medical trials would assist us higher perceive how medicine have an effect on each mom and baby, and would deal with long-standing gaps in proof,” says Polyakov.

This text is reproduced with permission and was first printed on September 26, 2025.

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