Women who use acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol and other medications, during pregnancy could be increasing the risk of ADHD-like behavioral problems their children, according to research.
A new study, published September 24 in PLoS One, backs up a similar finding published earlier this year in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics.
“These findings strengthen the contention that acetaminophen exposure in pregnancy increases the risk of ADHD-like behaviours, as published by Liew et al. Our study also supports the earlier report that the findings are specific to acetaminophen, as there were no associations found with other commonly used drugs in pregnancy (aspirin, antacids and antibiotics),” the team of New Zealand researchers wrote in their study.
The latest research analyzed data from 871 participants enrolled in Auckland Birthweight Collaborative Study. Mothers who had taken acetaminophen during pregnancy — nearly half of the sample — were more likely to report ADHD-like behavioral problems in their children at ages 7 and 11 years.
“Particularly problematic at age 7 were emotional and conduct problems,” the researchers said.
Though both studies linked acetaminophen use during pregnancy to ADHD symptoms in children, researchers said they don’t have enough evidence to conclude that acetaminophen causes ADHD.
“Early life acetaminophen exposure may be significant determinants ADHD only at higher doses of the pain killer,” they wrote. “In addition, other environmental factors not measured may also act through epigenetics to modify disease risk and neurological outcomes. More research is needed to provide a more precise assessment of risk and consequences of acetaminophen use during pregnancy.”
