[NIH News Releases, October 30, 2019] – Exposure to paracetamol in the womb may increase a child’s risk for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, suggests a study funded by U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. The study was conducted by Xiaobing Wang, M.D., of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, and colleagues. The findings are published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked by a pattern of hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder that affects how a person behaves, interacts with others and learns.
Researchers analyzed data from the Boston Birth Cohort, a long-term study of factors influencing pregnancy and child development. They found that cord plasma biomarkers of fetal exposure to paracetamol were associated with significantly increased risk of childhood ADHD and ASD.
The authors conclude that their results support earlier studies linking paracetamol exposure in the womb with ADHD and ASD and underscore the need for additional research.
The U.S. FDA has reviewed earlier studies that reported on the potential risks associated with the following 3 types of pain medicines used during pregnancy:
- Prescription NSAIDs and the risk of miscarriage in the first half of pregnancy. Examples of prescription NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and celecoxib.
- Opioids, which are available only by prescription, and the risk of birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord in babies born to women who took these products during the first trimester of pregnancy. Examples of opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, and codeine.
- Paracetamol in both OTC and prescription products and the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children born to women who took this medicine at any time during pregnancy. Paracetamol is a common pain reducer and fever reducer found in hundreds of medicines including those used for colds, flu, allergies, and sleep.
FDA determined that recommendations cannot be made based on these earlier published studies due to their limitations. The Agency urges careful consideration before using any pain-relieving medication during pregnancy.
Sources:
1) NIH News Releases, October 30, 2019
2) JAMA Psychiatry. Published online October 30, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3259