The cause of Autism remains unknown, however, a coalition of international public health experts has released a consensus statement warning that pregnant women need to be cautious about taking acetaminophen, as it may change fetal development.
Acetaminophen is a common ingredient in hundreds of pain-relief medications such as Tylenol, Midol, Nyquil, and some Benadryl products. The group from the US, Sweden, Denmark, Brazil, and Scotland recommends that pregnant women abstain from taking acetaminophen unless it is medically necessary.
The experts also suggest that women should consult with physicians or pharmacists if they have doubts and minimize exposure by taking the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration. According to the statement, “experimental and epidemiological research” warns about the dangers of using acetaminophen while pregnant, and physicians and patients need to be aware of the potential risks. While experts noted that the news isn’t alarming, more awareness about acetaminophen use as a drug in pregnancy is essential. While this does not directly implicate acetaminophen as a cause of autism, it does raise many questions about its possible side effects.
The team of researchers acknowledged that drugs containing acetaminophen have long been considered to pose a minimal risk when used as directed during pregnancy. Various international regulators have supported this view. For example, doctors commonly advise that it is generally safe to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and pain. Pregnant women often rely on pain-relief drugs containing acetaminophen to treat headaches, muscle pain, back pain, and infections, but in certain cases, these medications are used to address high fever and severe pain that could potentially affect the developing fetus or the mother if left untreated.
The researchers behind the consensus statement highlighted that chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system could interfere with hormones critical for healthy neurological, urogenital, and reproductive development. They expressed concern about the increasing rates of neurological, urogenital, and reproductive disorders observed and the rising number of children with cognitive, learning, and behavioral issues.
The statement indicated that 29 observational studies involving over 220,000 mother-child pairs from different regions of the world have investigated the links between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Of these studies, 26 identified positive associations between acetaminophen exposure and a range of outcomes for the child, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and language delays.
However, there isn’t clear evidence directly linking drugs like Tylenol to the development of conditions such as autism, according to Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, an obstetrician-gynecologist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto. She believes that this is where the messaging of the consensus statement could be more precise. Medical professionals need to caution pregnant patients without causing them undue anxiety.
