A new study linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is causing a stir among both moms and the medical community.
The Danish study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics examined more than 60,000 women and found that moms who took acetaminophen during pregnancy had children who were more likely to develop this disorder. Even more specifically, children whose moms took acetaminophen were 13 percent more likely to show ADHD-like behaviors, such as hyperactivity and conduct issues, 29 percent more likely to need ADHD medications and 37 percent more likely to be diagnosed.
Acetaminophen, or Tylenol, is one of the last painkillers allowed during pregnancy and certainly the most common, and it’s not just used to treat pain such as headaches: Acetaminophen is also used to manage fevers, which can be very dangerous to fetal development.
So far doctors are not suggesting that pregnant women stop taking it entirely, but rather that further study is needed. For now, most suggest discussing the issue with your doctor. To read the study for yourself, click HERE.
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