Paracetamol administration during pregnancy can cause hyperactivity

Mothers should not take acetaminophen during pregnancy
Generally expectant mothers should be careful about which medications they take during their pregnancy. Some medications can not only harm the mother, but also the unborn child. Researchers found that women who take paracetamol during their pregnancy are at an increased risk of having their child suffer from so-called hyperactivity.

In pregnancy, it is very important for expectant mothers to pay attention to which medications they are taking. Because some medicines can cause considerable harm to the unborn child. Researchers from the University of Bristol have now found in a study that taking paracetamol during pregnancy can lead to hyperactivity in unborn children. The physicians published the results of their study in the medical journal "JAMA Pediatrics".

There are quite a few mothers who take the analgesic paracetamol during their pregnancy. Scientists found that this can lead to various health problems in the children. (Image: BestForYou / fotolia.com)

Active ingredient in acetaminophen is analgesic and antipyretic
Children whose mothers take paracetamol during pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing emotional or behavioral problems. The drug acetaminophen is sometimes referred to as acetaminophen. The active ingredient Tylenol contained in paracetamol has an analgesic and antipyretic effect, experts say. But there also seems to be some relatively unknown side effects. For example, researchers reported that acetaminophen lowers our compassion.

Benefits and dangers must be carefully assessed
The scientists found in their recent study that more than half of all pregnant women in the United States and Europe use acetaminophen to treat, for example, colds, flu and insomnia. Some people would also use the drug to treat osteoarthritis, although it has been proven that acetaminophen does not help with osteoarthritis.

Mothers should be careful about the use of the drug and use it wisely, explains Dr. Evie Stergiakouli from the University of Bristol. Moms and physicians must carefully weigh the risks of using acetaminophen for the treatment of fever and pain against potential dangers to the child's health, the author adds.

Paracetamol in pregnancy can lead to autism and ADHD in the child
In general, maternal use of analgesics and other medications can have serious consequences for our children. Independent studies have recently suggested that taking paracetamol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism and ADHD. Other reasons why women should pay close attention to what medications they take during pregnancy.

Study examines the data of 14,500 families
For their new study, the researchers analyzed the data from 14,500 families of the so-called Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, an ongoing study by the University of Bristol in the UK. More than half of all mothers (4,415 women or 53 percent) reported that they used acetaminophen within the first eighteen weeks of pregnancy. 3,381 (42 percent) of the women surveyed used it until the 32nd week of pregnancy. Postnatal therefore used a total of 6,916 mothers (89 percent) and 3,454 of their partners (84 percent) on paracetamol, explains Drs. Stergiakouli.

Possible effects of paracetamol in pregnancy
The researchers also looked at other prenatal factors that could affect the child's attention. These included smoking, alcohol consumption, socio-economics and genetics. When mothers used acetaminophen within the first 18 weeks of pregnancy, the odds of developing hyperactivity and developing behavioral problems increased. If paracetamol is used during the first 32 weeks of pregnancy, the likelihood of emotional symptoms, behavioral problems and hyperactivity increases.

The brain is particularly vulnerable in development
However, the scientists did not find a causal relationship between the intake of paracetamol during pregnancy and the negative effects on the development of affected children. For this reason, further studies are urgently needed, say the doctors. The human brain is not fully developed until the 15th month and during this period it is exposed to a number of factors that may possibly lead to behavioral problems, the experts speculate.

Pain management during pregnancy
Mild pain (such as headache or back pain) is common during pregnancy, explain the doctors. For this reason, affected mothers often take acetaminophen. The intake of paracetamol is very widespread in practice. Mothers should try to use other methods of pain relief, such as heat pads, cold packs or massages, the scientists suggest. The intake of paracetamol during pregnancy should be avoided. If you need to take the medicine anyway, take care to take only minimal doses, the authors add.

Further investigations are urgently needed
The new study by scientists is now the fourth major study on the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and its effect on the so-called neuro-development of the child. Despite evidence of possible impairments, further studies are needed to better understand the exact causes of the association between the intake of paracetamol and the development of hyperactivity. (As)