The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) have issued the below factsheet following the recent US announcement on the link between paracetamol and autism.
The facts
There is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.
- A major study conducted in Sweden in 2024, involving 2.4 million children found no evidence that paracetamol causes autism in pregnancy.
- Untreated pain and fever can pose real risks to the unborn baby, so it is crucial to manage these symptoms with the recommended treatment. Paracetamol continues to be the recommended pain relief option for pregnant women when used as directed.
- Patients should not swap to alternatives such as ibuprofen, as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally not recommended during pregnancy
The evidence
The largest study to date was conducted last year in Jama Psychiatry by a team from the Karolinska Institute near Stockholm, which found no link between siblings exposed to paracetamol during pregnancy.
2.4 million children born between 1995 and 2019 were part of the study, with their data used along with reports from their midwives during their pregnancy to find 186,000 children whose mothers were treated with paracetamol during pregnancy.
These children were then compared with their own brothers and sisters in cases where the mother had not taken paracetamol when she was pregnant with them. They concluded that there was no evidence of a link between maternal paracetamol use and autism.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) comment on paracetemol for pregnancy
Patient safety is our top priority. There is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children.
Paracetamol remains the recommended pain relief option for pregnant women when used as directed. Pregnant women should continue to follow existing NHS guidance and speak to their healthcare professional if they have questions about any medication during pregnancy. Untreated pain and fever can pose risks to the unborn baby, so it is important to manage these symptoms with the recommended treatment.
Our advice on medicines in pregnancy is based on rigorous assessment of the best available scientific evidence. Any new evidence that could affect our recommendations would be carefully evaluated by our independent scientific experts.
We continuously monitor the safety of all medicines, including those used during pregnancy, through robust monitoring and surveillance. We encourage anyone to report any suspected side effects to us via the Yellow Card scheme.
Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA