NEW YORK, March 1: Expectant mothers may want to reconsider reaching for the medicine cabinet when seeking relief. A new study suggests that a commonly used over-the-counter pain reliever could be linked to an increased risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children.

ADHD, a widespread behavioral condition, affects approximately 7 million children in the United States, with about a million diagnosed since 2016. The reasons behind the recent surge in diagnoses have been widely debated, but new research published in Nature Mental Health points to a surprising potential culprit: acetaminophen, a popular painkiller.

The study analyzed blood samples from 307 pregnant women between 2006 and 2011. It found that children born to mothers who used acetaminophen during pregnancy had an 18% prevalence of ADHD, compared to 9% in children whose mothers did not take the drug. Remarkably, the likelihood of an ADHD diagnosis was more than three times higher in children whose mothers had detectable levels of acetaminophen in their blood.

Even more striking was the gender difference: daughters whose mothers used acetaminophen during pregnancy were six times more likely to develop ADHD, while the effect was less pronounced in sons.

Acetaminophen is a widely used drug that treats conditions like fevers, headaches, muscle aches, and menstrual cramps. It is the active ingredient in Paracetamol, which is frequently recommended to pregnant women for pain relief. It’s estimated that 40% to 60% of pregnant women use Tylenol at some point during their pregnancy.

Although acetaminophen is generally considered safe for use during pregnancy, lead study author Brennan Baker, a researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, pointed out that previous research on the topic has relied on self-reported data, which may not accurately reflect actual acetaminophen use.

“This medication was also approved decades ago and may need reevaluation by the FDA,” said Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a pediatrician at SCRI and co-author of the study. “Acetaminophen was never evaluated for fetal exposure in relation to long-term neurodevelopmental impacts.”

While past studies on the potential link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD have yielded mixed results, the new research adds weight to the concern. For example, a large Swedish study found no connection, while Norwegian research identified a correlation. In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that studies on the safety of Paracetamol use during pregnancy were "too limited to make any recommendations." However, the agency urged pregnant women to consult their healthcare providers before using Tylenol.

“Because of this uncertainty, the use of pain medicines during pregnancy should be carefully considered,” the FDA statement emphasized. “We urge pregnant women to always discuss all medicines with their health care professionals before using them.”

As the study findings continue to spark concern, expectant mothers are encouraged to consult with their doctors to better understand the potential risks before reaching for acetaminophen during pregnancy.