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Paracetamol use in pregnancy is safe, no link to autism, ADHD, says Lancet: Why this is a gold-standard study

Researchers say earlier studies were biased and failed to account for genetics and maternal illness

4 min readJan 17, 2026 05:03 AM IST

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Across the sibling-comparison studies, data included 262,852 children assessed for autism, 335,255 for ADHD and 406,681 for intellectual disability.

Taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or intellectual disability among children, according to a latest study in The Lancet. This clears the confusion that had arisen from US President Donald Trump’s statement in September last year, suggesting paracetamol use during pregnancy is linked to autism in children.

This is the most rigorous analysis of evidence till date, based on 43 studies, and was led by researchers from City St George’s, University of London. It has been published in ‘The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health.’

What is the safety profile of paracetamol?

Paracetamol or acetaminophen is the most commonly used analgesic and antipyretic during pregnancy, recommended globally as a first-line option for pain relief and fever reduction. Its safety profile is generally more favourable than that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids, making it the preferred choice in obstetric care. The claims were based on earlier studies that reported small associations between paracetamol in pregnancy and increased risks of autism. However, these were often based on studies prone to bias, insufficient data and not exploring comparisons between siblings to account for family history.

A sibling comparison study

At a virtual interaction with reporters, Asma Khalil, professor of obstetrics and maternal foetal medicine at City St George’s, University of London, explained that the team compared pregnancies where the mother had taken paracetamol to pregnancies where they had not. They pooled the results of sibling comparison studies that compared siblings born to the same mother, where one pregnancy involved paracetamol exposure and another did not. This design helps control for shared genetics, family environment and long-term parental characteristics that traditional studies cannot fully account for.

Across the sibling-comparison studies, data included 262,852 children assessed for autism, 335,255 for ADHD and 406,681 for intellectual disability.

When compared to pregnancies with no exposure to paracetamol, it was confirmed that taking paracetamol in pregnancy was not linked to childhood autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.

“Our findings suggest that previously reported links are likely to be explained by genetic predisposition or other maternal factors such as fever or underlying pain, rather than a direct effect of the paracetamol itself,” Prof Khalil said, adding, “The message is clear – paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided. This is important as paracetamol is the first-line medication we recommend for pregnant women in pain or with a fever, and so they should feel reassured that they still have a safe option to relieve them of their symptoms.” Avoiding paracetamol may unintentionally increase harm, particularly if the fever is left untreated, the researchers feel.

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Gold standard findings

She further explained that all studies were assessed with the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool that evaluates numerous factors in the way the research has been conducted to determine the risk of bias. Overall, the findings of the study support the recommendations made by major medical organisations worldwide.

Researchers hope that this gold-standard review will put an end to any scepticism on using paracetamol during pregnancy. Avoiding paracetamol for significant pain or fever can expose both mother and baby to known risks.

Dr Sanjay Gupte, former president of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists’ Society of India, reiterated that the study had cleared the confusion once and for all. “When the paracetamol controversy blew up in social media, some pregnant patients of mine, who had taken paracetamol to sort out pain and fever, had become extremely worried. I repeat, taken in the proper dose, there is no cause for concern,” he says.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More