A recent study published in Nature Mental Health suggests that fetal exposure to acetaminophen may increase the likelihood of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite being considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), acetaminophen is widely used during pregnancy, with up to 70% of pregnant women taking it for pain or fever relief. The study followed 307 women from 2006 to 2011, analyzing plasma biomarkers for acetaminophen and tracking their children's neurodevelopment over 8 to 10 years.
Researchers found that children of mothers who used acetaminophen had an 18% ADHD rate, compared to 9% among those whose mothers did not. The risk was particularly pronounced in daughters, who showed a 6.16 times higher likelihood of ADHD when exposed in utero. Given that acetaminophen was approved decades ago without a thorough evaluation of its long-term fetal neurodevelopmental effects, the researchers suggest that its safety should be reassessed.
The study drew from the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) cohort, which included 1,031 pregnant Black women in Memphis. While researchers believe the findings could apply broadly, conflicting evidence on acetaminophen's risks remains. For instance, a Norwegian study supported the link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and ADHD, while a Swedish study found no association, though it relied on self-reported data.
Why These Acetaminophen Findings Are Important
Given these discrepancies, researchers call for further investigation and updated medical guidelines. Pregnant individuals should consult with healthcare providers about acetaminophen use, considering dosage and alternative pain relief options. Medical societies and the FDA should revise recommendations as new safety data emerge.
Reference
Baker, B. H., Bammler, T. K., Barrett, E. S., Bush, N. R., Collett, B. R., Derefinko, K. J., Enquobahrie, D. A., Karr, C. J., LeWinn, K. Z., Liu, J., Loftus, C. T., MacDonald, J. W., Swan, S. H., Zhao, Q., Paquette, A. G., & Sathyanarayana, S. (2025). Associations of maternal blood biomarkers of prenatal APAP exposure with placental gene expression and child attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Nature Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00387-6