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Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism or ADHD, Studies Find

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • A Lancet review found no evidence linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to autism or ADHD
  • Sibling comparison studies were prioritized to control for familial factors
  • Medical authorities continue to recommend acetaminophen for pain and fever during pregnancy

Recent scientific reviews and cohort studies have examined the relationship between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, focusing on autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability.

A systematic review published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health analyzed 43 studies and concluded that there is no evidence supporting an increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children exposed to acetaminophen in utero. The review was led by a European research team with Professor Asma Khalil of St George’s, University of London as lead author.

The Lancet review gave priority to studies that used sibling comparison designs, which help account for genetic and familial confounding factors. Media outlets such as The Guardian, AP News, Financial Times, and Chemical & Engineering News reported on these findings, noting the absence of a link between prenatal acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders.

A large Swedish cohort study published in JAMA also used sibling control analysis and found no association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. In this study, hazard ratios for these conditions were close to 1, and any marginally increased risks observed in models without sibling controls were not present in sibling-controlled analyses.

What the numbers show

  • 43 studies were included in the Lancet systematic review
  • JAMA study hazard ratios: autism 0.98, ADHD 0.98, intellectual disability 1.01
  • BMJ umbrella review published in November 2025 assessed study quality as low to critically low

An umbrella review published in BMJ in November 2025 evaluated previous studies that suggested links between paracetamol use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders. This review determined that most of these studies were of low to critically low quality and that familial factors likely accounted for observed associations.

Earlier reviews, including one led by Harvard’s Andrea Baccarelli in 2025, reported associations between prenatal acetaminophen use and increased risk of autism or ADHD. However, these findings have been challenged by more recent and methodologically rigorous studies.

The FDA in September 2025 began a process to update acetaminophen labeling to reflect possible associations with neurodevelopmental risks. The agency stated that causality had not been established at that time.

Industry reaction

Medical authorities such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and European regulators continue to recommend acetaminophen as a first-line option for treating pain and fever during pregnancy, citing the lack of causal evidence linking the medication to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Experts have stated that untreated fever during pregnancy presents real health risks to both mother and fetus. They caution that avoiding acetaminophen based on unproven associations may result in greater harm.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

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