Is Tylenol Safe in Pregnancy? New Study Highlights Potential Risks

A recent study published in BMC Environmental Health by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has raised concerns about the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy. The study suggested that prenatal exposure to this common pain and fever medication may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is the first research to apply the rigorous Navigation Guide methodology to thoroughly evaluate existing scientific evidence on this topic.

The researchers analyzed 46 studies from multiple countries involving over 100,000 participants. Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol in the US and paracetamol elsewhere, is the most widely used over-the-counter drug by pregnant women worldwide due to its safety record. However, the new findings challenge this view.

Using the Navigation Guide approach, which assesses the quality and potential bias of studies, the team found that higher-quality research was more likely to link prenatal acetaminophen use with increased risks of autism and ADHD.