Does taking acetaminophen increase the chance for miscarriage?
Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. Taking acetaminophen at the recommended dose is not expected to increase the chance for miscarriage.
Does taking acetaminophen increase the chance of birth defects?
Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. When used at recommended dosages, acetaminophen has not been shown to increase the chance for birth defects.
Does taking acetaminophen in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?
One study of over 24,000 pregnancies with self-reported acetaminophen use reported an increased chance for pregnancy-related complications, including preterm delivery (birth before week 37) and low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500 grams] at birth). However, there were flaws in the design of this study, including the reason a person was taking a pain medication was not accounted for. These pregnancy-related problems were not found in a report that reviewed the medical literature with acetaminophen use in over 39,000 pregnancies.
Some studies have suggested that taking acetaminophen daily or most days during the second half of pregnancy could slightly increase the chance of wheezing or asthma in children. However, other factors might be the reason for the development of asthma in the child, such as the illness the parent has, or the reason why the parent needs to use acetaminophen during their pregnancy, and not the acetaminophen itself.
Taking too much acetaminophen can cause liver damage, kidney damage, and anemia (low iron in the blood) in a pregnant individual. It has also been reported to cause the same problems in the baby.
Does taking acetaminophen in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?
There have been studies that noted a possible link between the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy and mild developmental delay (including language delay) and hyperactivity. This link was stronger when acetaminophen was used for 28 days or more during pregnancy. Another study showed a weak link between acetaminophen use between 18-32 weeks of pregnancy and hyperactivity and attention problems. However, this link was only seen in children under the age of 7 years. It is not clear if these findings are related to acetaminophen or to other factors.
One study looked at the reported use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and then evaluated the exposed children at 4 years of age. This study did not find an increased chance for harmful effects on the children’s I.Q., learning, or development.
Disclaimer
HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB provides a source of information validated by health professionals; however, this information is provided for informational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. Medical standards and practices evolve as new data becomes available, so it is imperative to consult your doctor or a qualified health professional for any questions or concerns regarding your health without delay or omission. It is the responsibility of your treating physician or any other health professional, based on their independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine the best way to evaluate and treat you.
HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB does not specifically recommend or endorse any test, practitioner, treatment, product, or opinion mentioned on our platform. HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB also does not replace the individual patient assessment based on the examination by the healthcare provider of each patient and the consideration of laboratory data and other patient-specific factors.
The use of the information available on our site is at your own risk. No person involved in the creation, production, promotion, or marketing of HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB guarantees or represents, expressly or implicitly, anything regarding the information available on the platform, which is provided “as it is”. All warranties are expressly excluded and disclaimed, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, as well as any warranties arising by law or otherwise in law or from trade or usage. Any statements or representations made by any other person or entity are void.
While consulting symptoms or other medical information on our platform may guide your discussions with your healthcare professional, this information should not be used to make a medical diagnosis or determine treatment. Before making changes to your supplement or medication regimen, please discuss with your medical team or contact 811 (Canada) to ensure the relevance of these changes to your individual situation.