Major Study: Tylenol Safe for Pregnancy, Not Linked to Autism

Pregnant people can breathe easier about reaching for Tylenol when they need it. A major new study published in The Lancet confirms that acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) doesn't raise the risk of having a child with autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.

European researchers analyzed 43 studies and found that earlier claims linking the common pain reliever to these conditions fell apart once they properly accounted for other factors like genetics. The findings are especially meaningful because acetaminophen has been the go-to safe option for treating pain and fever during pregnancy for over a century.

"The message really is clear," said study co-author Dr. Asma Khalil, an obstetrics professor at St. George's Hospital, University of London. "Paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided."

The research directly challenges recommendations from U.S. health officials who launched a nationwide campaign last September warning against acetaminophen use during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary. That guidance made the United States an outlier, as medical organizations in America, Britain, and Europe continue recommending the drug as a first-line treatment.

The European team used a clever approach: they looked at mothers who took acetaminophen during one pregnancy but not another. If the drug truly caused developmental issues, siblings would show different outcomes. They didn't.

This matters because pregnant people have few safe pain relief options. Common alternatives like Advil can cause kidney damage, preterm birth, or stillbirth. Acetaminophen also treats fevers that can increase birth defects, making it a critical medical tool.

The Bright Side

The study analyzed massive datasets from Sweden and Japan alongside 15 other research papers. Independent health experts praised the thorough methods and clear conclusions, which align with decades of safety data on a medication first used clinically in 1893.

Major medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the European Medicines Agency already recommend acetaminophen as safe for pregnancy. Now this comprehensive review adds powerful evidence supporting that guidance, potentially easing anxiety for millions of pregnant people who need pain or fever relief.

While U.S. health officials say the study doesn't change their position, pregnant people now have robust, peer-reviewed research confirming what doctors have known for generations: taking Tylenol as directed remains a safe choice.