Autism risk: Is Paracetamol safe to take during pregnancy?

A 2024 study of nearly 2.5 million children in Sweden found no causal link between in utero exposure to paracetamol and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A 2025 review of 46 earlier studies did suggest a link between prenatal paracetamol exposure and increased risks of these conditions, but the researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Harvard University, and others said the study does not prove the drug caused the outcomes.

They advised that pregnant women should continue to use paracetamol as needed, at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest possible period.

Large 2025 studies from Europe and Japan have suggested that what might appear to be small associations between prenatal paracetamol use and neurodevelopmental disorders might actually be due to confounders, that is, other underlying factors — such as environmental conditions, parents’ health and genetics, other medications the mothers may have been taking, and illness.

What are the medical guidelines for pregnant women?

Paracetamol is the recommended first-line medication for pain and fever during pregnancy in guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Britain’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and other medical organisations.

Use of ibuprofen, naproxen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the third trimester can lead to birth defects, both societies warn.

Pregnant women should talk to their doctor if they plan to take any of these medications, ACOG advises.

What are the risks of not reducing fever during pregnancy?

Untreated maternal fever and pain during foetal development can increase the risks of birth defects such as heart conditions, abdominal wall defects, and neural tube defects in which the brain and spinal cord do not form properly. Untreated pain and fever has also been linked with preterm birth, low birth weight, and miscarriage.

In pregnant women, untreated fever and pain can cause high blood pressure, dehydration, depression and anxiety, and other health problems.