Overview
- An international team reviewed 43 studies and meta‑analysed 17, reporting no clinically important association between prenatal paracetamol use and autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.
- The meta‑analysis incorporated outcomes for roughly 262,852 children assessed for autism, 335,255 for ADHD and 406,681 for intellectual disability.
- Researchers prioritized sibling‑comparison designs, low‑risk‑of‑bias cohorts and longer follow‑up to better account for genetics, family environment and maternal health.
- The authors conclude previously reported links likely reflect factors such as genetic predisposition, maternal fever or underlying pain rather than a causal drug effect.
- Clinicians are urged to continue recommending paracetamol as first‑line for pain or fever in pregnancy when used as directed, with experts warning that discouraging its use could cause harm; the findings rebut September warnings from the U.S. administration and contrast with an FDA label change while aligning with EMA statements.