{"id":1108,"date":"2026-03-24T09:13:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T09:13:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/?p=1108"},"modified":"2026-04-08T22:53:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T22:53:52","slug":"tylenol-during-pregnancy-not-linked-to-autism-adhd-risk-review-confirms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/tylenol-during-pregnancy-not-linked-to-autism-adhd-risk-review-confirms\/","title":{"rendered":"Tylenol During Pregnancy Not Linked to Autism, ADHD Risk, Review Confirms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"css-1m7g2gk\">\n<div class=\"css-1h1rean css-1kdolwm\" data-article-body=\"0\">\n<div class=\"css-z468a2\">\n<div>\n<article class=\"article-body css-d2znx6 undefined\">\n<div class=\"css-1hn52zh\" data-testid=\"tabbed-article-section\">\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The most rigorous review to date found that there is no evidence that acetaminophen (Tylenol), also known as paracetamol, use in pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>This contradicts the information the Trump administration previously suggested around the safety of Tylenol use during pregnancy.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Experts recommend discussing safe options for pain relief with their doctor.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div data-preamp=\"serena-chatbot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>A new gold-standard systematic review and meta-analysis found that there is no evidence to suggest that the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD, or\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/intellectual-disability-vs-learning-disability\">intellectual disabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The research is the latest in a series of large-scale reviews to confirm that acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, is not linked to developmental disorders in offspring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The results were recently published on January 16 in\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanogw\/article\/PIIS3050-5038(25)00211-0\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, &amp; Women\u2019s Health<span class=\"css-gkhufu icon-hl-trusted-source-after\"><span class=\"sro\">Trusted Source<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>In September 2025, the Trump administration\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/articles\/2025\/09\/fact-evidence-suggests-link-between-acetaminophen-autism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">suggested<\/a>\u00a0that taking Tylenol during pregnancy may\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/tylenol-autism-link-trump-administration\">raise the risk of autism in children<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/news-events\/press-announcements\/fda-responds-evidence-possible-association-between-autism-and-acetaminophen-use-during-pregnancy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<span class=\"css-gkhufu icon-hl-trusted-source-after\"><span class=\"sro\">Trusted Source<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0then initiated label changes on Tylenol to include a mention of the possible association between the medication and the risk of autism and\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/adhd\">ADHD<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Following the announcement, Texas Attorney General\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.texasattorneygeneral.gov\/news\/releases\/attorney-general-paxton-sues-big-pharma-manufacturers-deceptively-marketing-tylenol-pregnant-mothers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ken Paxton<\/a>\u00a0and others\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawsuit-information-center.com\/tylenol-autism-lawsuit.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">nationwide<\/a>\u00a0filed lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry, alleging that manufacturers misled consumers about the potential risks of Tylenol use during pregnancy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThe exaggerated hype and misrepresentation about acetaminophen [Tylenol] increasing the risk of\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/autism\">autism<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/adhd\">ADHD<\/a>\u00a0during pregnancy has been exploited, harmful to pregnant women, and causing unnecessary confusion,\u201d\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sjpp.org\/find-a-doctor\/sheryl-ross-md\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sherry Ross<\/a>, MD, board certified OB-GYN and Women\u2019s Health Expert at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, told Healthline. Ross wasn\u2019t involved in the review.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Despite the findings of the latest review, federal health officials upheld their position on the possible risks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>In a statement shared with Healthline, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said that experts have expressed concern about the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Federal health officials cited\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/hsph.harvard.edu\/office\/dean\/andrea-baccarelli\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrea Baccarelli<\/a>, MD, the Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, who, according to HHS, has suggested a causal relationship between prenatal acetaminophen use and the neurodevelopmental disorders of ADHD and ASD, as well as related symptomology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Here\u2019s what you need to know about the current evidence on acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1avyp1d\" data-testid=\"tabbed-article-section\">\n<h2>No causal link between acetaminophen and autism<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The Lancet review examined 43 existing studies that had the highest quality and most rigorous research methods.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>These studies compared pregnancies where the individual had taken acetaminophen (Tylenol) to pregnancies where the individual had not taken the medication.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>They then pooled the results of sibling-comparison studies in which siblings born to the same mother were compared: one pregnancy included acetaminophen exposure, and the other didn\u2019t. This helped control for genetics, family environment, and long-term parental characteristics that traditional studies have not been able to account for.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The sibling-comparison studies included 262,852 children assessed for autism, 335,255 for ADHD, and 406,681 for intellectual disability. It was confirmed that taking acetaminophen in pregnancy was not linked to childhood autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability when compared to pregnancies with no acetaminophen exposure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cOur findings suggest that previously reported links are likely to be explained by genetic predisposition or other maternal factors such as fever or underlying pain, rather than a direct effect of the paracetamol (acetaminophen) itself,\u201d\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stgeorges.nhs.uk\/people\/asma-khalil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Asma Khalil<\/a>, professor of obstetrics and maternal fetal medicine at City St George\u2019s, University of London and Consultant Obstetrician, who led the study, said in a\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.citystgeorges.ac.uk\/news-and-events\/news\/2026\/january2\/taking-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-does-not-increase-risk-of-autism-adhd-or-intellectual-disabilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThe message is clear \u2014 paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Ross agreed. \u201c<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pain-relief\/acetaminophen-tylenol-side-effects\">Tylenol<\/a>\u00a0is commonly used to treat fever, headache, and pain during pregnancy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cIt is safe to use in pregnancy for these common and potentially dangerous conditions. These frequent complaints during pregnancy are safely treated using Tylenol with minimal risks. The risks of untreated\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7444605\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fevers<\/a>, headaches, and pain during pregnancy may be dangerous for mother and baby and do outweigh the unsupported risks of using Tylenol to treat these harmful symptoms,\u201d Ross continued.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Federal health officials, however, disagreed with the study findings. HHS told Healthline that the authors engineered a finding rather than evaluating causality.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>An umbrella review of systematic reviews published in\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/content\/391\/bmj-2025-088141\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 2025<span class=\"css-gkhufu icon-hl-trusted-source-after\"><span class=\"sro\">Trusted Source<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0also found that individuals can safely take acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy to treat fever and pain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The researchers of this review noted that previous studies, which suggested a slight association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism and ADHD, were flawed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cExisting evidence does not clearly link maternal [Tylenol] use during pregnancy with autism or ADHD in offspring,\u201d the researchers wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>This review was published just months after the U.S. government announcement regarding the risk of using\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/no-link-tylenol-use-during-pregnancy-autism-adhd-review\">Tylenol during pregnancy<\/a>\u00a0and showed there was not sufficient evidence to support this announcement.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>No link between vaccines and autism<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>A large study of 1.2 million children published in\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.acpjournals.org\/doi\/10.7326\/ANNALS-25-00997\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">July 2025<\/a>\u00a0found no compelling evidence to suggest a link between\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/vaccinations\">childhood vaccines<\/a>\u00a0and autism or other chronic health conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>This Danish study provides reassuring, compelling evidence on the safety of aluminum in vaccines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Experts who were not affiliated with the research told\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/research-finds-no-evidence-vaccines-cause-autism\">Healthline<\/a>\u00a0that there have been multitudes of\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/vaccines-and-autism\">reputable studies<\/a>\u00a0on vaccine safety in recent decades, and none have found a definitive link to autism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThe scientific community has researched this very thoroughly, and there\u2019s no evidence that childhood vaccines cause autism,\u201d said\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.providence.org\/doctors\/pediatrics\/ca\/los-angeles\/danelle-fisher-1134145154\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Danelle Fisher<\/a>, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Fisher wasn\u2019t involved in the reviews.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Experts reaffirm the importance of children receiving the recommended vaccination schedule to prevent the spread of potentially fatal illnesses, such as measles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The growing\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/texas-measles-outbeak-low-vaccination-rates\">measles outbreak<\/a>\u00a0that began in West Texas has been linked to low vaccination rates.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mbe909656-6df7-4ce4-b867-d6687b9ecf37mpd_firstQuarter_58e2106b-3110-4ea6-9acd-9e9d3119f36b\" class=\"\" data-testid=\"driver\" data-placement=\"firstQuarter\">\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1avyp1d\" data-testid=\"tabbed-article-section\">\n<h2>What actually causes autism?<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p><a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/autism\">Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)<\/a>\u00a0is believed to be\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0361923025002230\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">caused by<\/a>\u00a0a combination of genetic and environmental influences. However, the exact cause is still currently unknown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The exact cause(s) of autism is still to be determined,\u201d Ross said. \u201cCredible medical studies suggest autism is thought to be due to genetic and environmental factors. What is known about the cause of autism is [that] it results from a combination of influences.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cAutism has a strong genetic influence based on mutations of certain genes that impact brain development. Abnormal wiring of the brain in the early development of the baby is also thought to contribute to the case of autism. Maternal infections, exposure to toxins, and pregnancy and delivery complications are potential environmental factors,\u201d Ross continued.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>According to the\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niehs.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/conditions\/autism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)<span class=\"css-gkhufu icon-hl-trusted-source-after\"><span class=\"sro\">Trusted Source<\/span><\/span><\/a>, a growing area of research focuses on the interaction between environmental and genetic factors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Some genetic factors that may influence the development and diagnosis of ASD include:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>certain genetic conditions, such as\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/down-syndrome\">Down syndrome<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/fragile-x-syndrome\">fragile X<\/a>, and\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-1c2ok3c\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/rett-syndrome-genetics\">Rett syndrome<\/a><\/li>\n<li>a sibling or twin with autism<\/li>\n<li>older parents<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>While progress has been made in understanding environmental factors, they alone are unlikely to cause ASD. Rather, they may be more likely to increase the risk of development when combined with genetic factors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Environmental factors may include:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>advanced parental age at the time of conception<\/li>\n<li>prenatal exposure to certain pesticides and air pollution<\/li>\n<li>maternal obesity, diabetes, or immune system disorders<\/li>\n<li>extreme prematurity or very low birth weight<\/li>\n<li>any difficulty during birth that may lead to periods of oxygen deprivation in the baby\u2019s brain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Research into the exact causes of ASD is ongoing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The most rigorous review to date found that there is no evidence that acetaminophen (Tylenol), also known as paracetamol, use in pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities. This contradicts the information the Trump administration previously suggested around the safety of Tylenol use during pregnancy. Experts recommend discussing safe options for pain [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1108"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1110,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1108\/revisions\/1110"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}