Hi all,
We’ve seen many questions and concerns on the boards today following the recent comments from President Trump about whether taking paracetamol during pregnancy could be linked to autism. We were contacted by the Department of Health with some information that we hope will help reassure you.
A new, large-scale study has looked into this, and the results are clear: there is no evidence that paracetamol use in pregnancy causes autism in children.
The key findings:
- A 2024 study from Sweden followed 2.4 million children, making it the largest to date on this topic.
- Researchers compared siblings where one pregnancy involved paracetamol use and another didn’t, and found no evidence of a link between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism.
- Untreated pain and fever in pregnancy can themselves pose risks to the baby, so it’s important to manage these symptoms safely.
- Paracetamol remains the recommended pain relief in pregnancy when used as directed.
- Alternatives like ibuprofen and other NSAIDs are generally not advised during pregnancy.
Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, said:
“There is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children. Paracetamol remains the recommended pain relief option for pregnant women when used as directed. Pregnant women should continue to follow NHS guidance and speak to their healthcare professional if they have any concerns.”
You can read more on the NHS website about medicines in pregnancy, and report any suspected side effects via the Yellow Card scheme.
MNHQ