Is Acetaminophen Safe to Use in Pregnancy?

Studies examining acetaminophen use during pregnancy (see Figure 1) and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders — namely, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — in children have yielded conflicting results. Several systematic reviews, including one that informed the FDA’s recent decision to update acetaminophen’s labeling, have reported a small increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. In contrast, sibling-comparison studies controlling for shared genetic and familial factors have generally found no association. To address this uncertainty, researchers undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies that examined associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and validated neurodev…