Key Takeaways
Show For years, acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) has been considered a safe medication to take for pain relief during pregnancy. Now, researchers warn that the common over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever may interfere with fetal development, and they are advising pregnant people to be cautious about taking the drug.
Tylenol is a popular brand of acetaminophen. New RecommendationsIn the new consensus statement published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, the researchers cite a growing body of evidence that suggests acetaminophen use during pregnancy can affect the fetus, and that it may lead to neurodevelopmental, reproductive, and urogenital disorders in children. The researchers are not necessarily saying that pregnant people should never use acetaminophen—rather, they advise that it should be used with caution and under the guidance of a doctor. The authors wrote that acetaminophen is an “important medication” and acknowledged that “alternatives for treatment of high fever and severe pain are limited.” Based on the evidence, the authors made the following recommendations:
What Is Acetaminophen?Acetaminophen is in a class of medications called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). It works by changing the way the body senses pain, as well as by cooling the body. Jamie Alan, RPh, PharmD, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, tells Verywell that in pregnancy, acetaminophen “does help with pain reduction and fever reduction.” Up to
70% of pregnant people in the United States report taking acetaminophen at some point in their pregnancy. Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in many pain-relieving medications, such as Tylenol. It can relieve mild to moderate pain from
headaches, menstrual periods, colds, sore throats, backaches, toothaches,
osteoarthritis, muscle aches, and reactions to vaccinations. It is also used to reduce
fevers. Is Acetaminophen Safe?The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aware that the decision to use any medication during pregnancy can be complex. In a 2015 statement on the use of pain medicine in pregnancy, the FDA acknowledged that “severe and persistent pain that is not effectively treated during pregnancy can result in depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure in the mother.” Jennifer Wider, MDAny medication used during pregnancy has the potential to have side effects. — Jennifer Wider, MD The FDA said that medications “including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and acetaminophen can help treat severe and persistent pain” but that it is important “to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of using prescription and OTC pain medicines during pregnancy.” While some research has suggested that acetaminophen (in both OTC and prescription forms) is linked with a higher risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children born to people who took the medication during pregnancy, the FDA says that the data is “inconclusive.” Research has also found that taking too much acetaminophen during pregnancy can be difficult for the pregnant person’s liver—and the fetus’s liver—to process. The authors of the most recent paper say that the drug has also been linked to genital malformations and early-onset puberty. What Doctors SayChristine Greves, MD, an OB/GYN at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida, tells Verywell that in general, doctors recommend that that you limit taking any medication during pregnancy, including acetaminophen. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends the use of acetaminophen to treat conditions like the flu in pregnant people. Women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, MD, tells Verywell that if you’re pregnant, it’s important to only take medication—including OTC drugs like acetaminophen—under the guidance of a doctor. “Any medication used during pregnancy has the potential to have side effects,” says Wilder. “It’s much better to use caution when taking any pharmaceutical and definitely speak to your doctor.” Medication AlternativesIf you have mild aches and pains, Greves recommends trying different supportive measures first, like ice and stretching for back pain. If they don’t help, then it might be worth talking to your doctor about medication. “Ideally, you would only take acetaminophen at the lowest dose possible for the shortest amount of time,” says Greves. “If you’re going to take it for longer periods of time or if you have chronic pain, it’s best to talk to your OB/GYN or pain management doctor about the risk-benefit ratio of that.” What This Means For YouAcetaminophen use in small doses for a short time is generally considered safe in pregnancy. Still, you should always talk to your doctor about any medication that you plan to take—even OTC drugs—while you are pregnant. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Korin Miller Thanks for your feedback! Why can't you take extra strength Tylenol while pregnant?Like many medications, no specific studies involving pregnant women were performed. Recent research suggests that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen might alter fetal development and increase the risks of certain neurodevelopmental, reproductive, and urogenital disorders.
What kind of Tylenol can I take while pregnant?Acetaminophen is considered the safest over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer to take when you're pregnant. It's available in liquid, capsules, tablets, and suppositories. Between 40 and 65 percent of pregnant women use acetaminophen at some time during their pregnancy, most often for headache and fever.
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