A landmark scientific review has definitively concluded that paracetamol remains the safest pain relief option for pregnant women, decisively countering controversial claims linking the drug to neurodevelopmental conditions in children.
Putting Controversial Claims to Rest
The drug, known as acetaminophen in the US, has been the cornerstone of managing pain and fever during pregnancy for decades. However, its safety was thrown into doubt last year following research, later amplified by the Trump administration, which suggested a potential link to autism and ADHD.
Now, a comprehensive international analysis of the evidence, led by senior obstetricians, states those fears are not supported by robust science. The researchers warned that the debate had become politicised, creating dangerous confusion for millions of expectant mothers and their doctors.
Dr Asma Khalil, a consultant obstetrician at St George’s Hospital, London and co-author of the study, stated: ‘We found no clinically important increase in the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability in children whose mothers took paracetamol during pregnancy.’
How the Review Reached Its Conclusion
The research team scrutinised 43 studies investigating potential links between prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes. They placed particular emphasis on high-quality sibling-comparison studies, which compare children born to the same mother – one pregnancy with paracetamol use and another without.
This powerful method helps control for shared genetic and environmental factors. The sibling analysis, covering over 262,000 pregnancies, showed no significant association with autism risk. Similarly, data from more than 502,000 pregnancies found no link to intellectual disability.
Across all analyses, including studies with more than five years of follow-up, the team found no evidence that recommended paracetamol use increased the risk of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, or intellectual disability.
The Real Risk: Avoiding Treatment
The authors issued a stark warning: discouraging the proper use of paracetamol based on inconclusive evidence ‘has the potential to cause greater harm than the drug itself’.
Untreated pain and high fever during pregnancy are known to increase risks, including miscarriage, premature birth, and birth defects. With around half of UK pregnant women and 65% in the US using the drug, clear guidance is crucial.
Independent expert Dr Monique Botha of Durham University commented: ‘This is a strong and reliable study… When the highest-quality evidence is examined… the findings are clear.’
The review follows controversial remarks by Donald Trump in September 2025, where he urged pregnant women to ‘tough it out’ and avoid paracetamol – advice widely condemned by medical professionals. The NHS continues to recommend paracetamol for short-term use at the lowest effective dose during pregnancy.
