A new European research review has concluded that taking paracetamol during pregnancy is safe offering reassurance after widespread public concern sparked by controversial claims linking the common pain reliever to autism and other developmental disorders. The comprehensive analysis published in The Lancet Obstetrics Gynecology & Women’s Health looked at 43 high‑quality studies including large sibling comparison studies designed to reduce bias and found no causal link between prenatal paracetamol use and autism ADHD or intellectual disabilities in children researchers said. Lead author Professor Asma Khalil of City St George’s University of London told scientists and expecting parents that when used as recommended paracetamol remains the only pain reliever considered safe for pregnant women emphasizing that untreated fever and pain themselves can pose serious risks to mothers and babies. The review was prompted in part by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims last year that the drug might increase the risk of autism remarks that were widely rejected by medical experts and health authorities as not evidence‑based. Health officials have for years advised caution with any medication during pregnancy but the latest findings strengthen confidence in paracetamol’s safety profile when taken at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest necessary period. The study’s results have been welcomed by scientists and clinicians across Europe as a scientific grounding to reassure patients and healthcare providers that standard clinical practice recommending paracetamol for pain and fever during pregnancy remains sound countering misinformation and ensuring that women do not avoid necessary treatment out of unwarranted fear.
