Tuesday 27 September 2022 07:56 PM Pregnant women who take Tylenol 'more likely to have children with ADHD and ... trends now
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Women who take painkillers like Tylenol while pregnant are more likely to have children with, a study suggests.
Children were around a fifth more likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or some form of insomnia by age three if their mothers regularly used acetaminophen.
It is the latest in a growing body of evidence to highlight the risks of common over-the-counter painkillers on unborn babies.
Although it is unclear how the drug causes ADHD or sleep issues, acetaminophen has also been linked to autism, language delay and decreased IQ.
Around 65 per cent of pregnant women in the US take the drug when expecting, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The proportion is around half among British mothers-to-be.
Acetaminophen is a generic medicine that is sold under brand names, including Tylenol and Panadol.
It is the first-line painkiller for pregnant women to relieve fever and discomfort.
Women who take painkillers like Tylenol while pregnant are more likely to have children with, a study suggests (file image)
Researchers analyzed data from 2,423 mother-child pairs from Pennsylvania, US, where women recorded their drug use and filled out a prenatal stress questionnaire during their third trimester.
Children’s behavioral problems were measured at the age of three, using the seven syndrome scale scores from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
Toddlers whose mothers took painkillers or medication containing acetaminophen during pregnancy scored ‘significantly higher’ on three of the seven CBCL syndrome scales – withdrawn, disordered sleep and attention issues.
