Pregnancy and Acetaminophen Linked to Cases of ADHD in Children
For decades, pregnant women were consistently assured that acetaminophen can be safely used to treat fevers and various aches and pains even when they are pregnant.
However, the latest research shows a strong link between the prenatal use of acetaminophen and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder cases in children.
The medical journal JAMA Pediatrics published Monday some slightly conclusive proof that an active ingredient in Tylenol has the potential to influence brain development while the baby is still in the womb. However, the findings do not provide clear-cut answers on whether acetaminophen is really safe when taken during pregnancy.
Based on the experiment conducted on 64,000 Danish women and their children, children whose mothers took acetaminophen at any point while pregnant were almost 30% more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD compared to children whose mothers took zero pain killers. The incidence of ADHD on the kids increased by as much as 63% when the medicine was taken during the second and third trimesters, and 28% when taken only during the third trimester.
Is Pregnancy and Acetaminophen Really Dangerous?
There is no conclusive proof that establishes that pregnancy and acetaminophen (Excedrin in Europe and Paracetamol in most parts of the world) can cause any form of hyperactivity disorders.
Nowadays, comprehensive studies such as this can determine potential drug effects that are not easily recognizable and more difficult to measure. And when research like this shows some level of veracity, it would be a smart move to refrain as much as possible on certain medications when pregnant.
The lowest exposure is always the best according to a researcher.
Nevertheless, more doctors would not be deterred from prescribing the use of pain relievers such as Tylenol to someone who has fever because the condition, when ignored, has been associated with lower IQ in children. And, another medical publication has warned doctors and pregnant mothers from altering their practices based on a single study alone.
With the lack of supporting studies on how pregnancy and acetaminophen might be paving the way for ADHD and the identification of people whose risks are increased, the most recent discoveries should be construed guardedly. Even if the results were tagged as not totally inconclusive, the link found in the Denmark experiments shows some holes in the safety of some medications during pregnancy.
Many have already suspected that acetaminophen has the potential to act as an endocrine-upsetting chemical with the capacity to influence brain development among fetuses, this according to the chairman of the department of epidemiology at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health, Dr. Beate Ritz,.
The drug has been discovered to go beyond the placental barrier that separates the mother and fetus. In fact, there is an increased rate in the incidence of male babies with hernia on women who took the drug during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is always a sensitive phase and fetal brain development is very vulnerable to disruption. A lot of things can easily go wrong and that is why we have to be very careful in the administration of any type of medicine.
Natural treatments eliminate the cause of side effects you may get from drugs. If you’re expecting and in need of pregnancy chiropractic care, Vital Health Chiropractic of Moon Township, PA, is dedicated to helping you improve your health. Call 412-424-0019 or contact us today in Moon Township, PA, to schedule your appointment. You’ll feel the difference we can make in upgrading your quality of life.