A new study confirms that using paracetamol during pregnancy is safe and finds no evidence linking it to increased risks of autism, ADHD, or developmental problems in children, refuting earlier claims by Donald Trump.
This study, published in the renowned medical journal The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health and considered one of the most rigorous reviews on the topic, confirms that pregnant women can safely take paracetamol and should be reassured. It directly counters last year's unfounded claims by Trump, who warned that paracetamol was harmful for pregnant women and urged them to strongly avoid this pain reliever, citing alleged links to autism in children.
Those claims were heavily criticized by medical organizations worldwide, since Tylenol (the US brand name) has long been the first-choice pain and fever reducer for pregnant women.
The latest research reviewed 43 high-quality studies covering hundreds of thousands of pregnant women, focusing on comparing pregnancies where the mother used paracetamol against those where she did not.
Importantly, many studies involved sibling comparisons, which control for confounding factors like genetics or family environment, making the findings highly reliable.
Researchers also tracked child development for over five years to investigate neurological links, finding no association with autism or ADHD.
Professor Asma Khalil, an obstetrician and lead researcher, stated, “After thoroughly analyzing the data, we found no link whatsoever—there is no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism.” She emphasized that the key message is clear: paracetamol remains a safe option for pregnant women when used according to medical advice.
At the same time, experts warn that unnecessarily avoiding paracetamol could endanger the fetus, as untreated high fever or pain may increase risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, or developmental problems.
Independent academics not involved in the study have praised the findings, noting they will reduce anxiety among pregnant women worldwide.
Professor Grainne McAlonan from King’s College London said pregnant women should not bear the stress of wondering if a common painkiller will have long-term effects on their child's health.
Neurology experts from the University of Bergen described the study as strong evidence that paracetamol does not raise the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities.
Despite clear results, the US Department of Health and Human Services noted that many experts remain cautious, citing some studies recommending careful use, especially at high doses or prolonged periods.
However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges there is no proven causal link between paracetamol and neurological disorders and continues to recognize it as the only fever-reducing medication approved for use during pregnancy.
UK public health agencies have reiterated that paracetamol remains the safest painkiller for pregnant women.
:BBC
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