Paracetamol Use In Pregnancy Not Linked To Autism Or ADHD In Children, New Study Claims, Refuting Trump's Statement

In September this year, US President Donald Trump made shocking claims related to the popular medicine, paracetamol. He and his administration claimed that this drug, when taken during pregnancy, may have links to autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. This statement by the politician created quite a buzz in the medical world. Now, a recent study has proved otherwise. It has discovered that paracetamol use during pregnancy has no links to autism or ADHD. Let’s take a look at what the study has found. Read ahead.

What Is The New Study All About

A new in-depth study, published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ) on Monday, discovered that there is no clear link between use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children. The researchers were from major universities and institutions in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Spain. They conducted this review in direct response to the recent debate over paracetamol’s safety during pregnancy. Previously, many scientists and global regulatory agencies had affirmed that the drug is safe.

In this study, researchers analysed nine existing systematic reviews on this topic. This was done to assess the overall quality and scientific validity of the claims on paracetamol. All nine reviews reported that there is a link between use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children. But the BMJ researchers stated that many of these studies did not take into consideration certain important health and lifestyle factors. It added that many of these multi-study reviews were of poor quality.

Also Read: Did You Know? Overusing Paracetamol Can Do THIS To Your Body

Donald Trump And The Paracetamol Debate

Is paracetamol safe during pregnancy? Since September, this topic has been in the news after Donald Trump warned that use of acetaminophen during pregnancy may be "associated with a very increased risk of autism."

During that time, an August 2025 meta-analysis was cited by federal officials at Mt Sinai, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Heath, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and UMass Lowell. They found how prenatal exposure to acetaminophen may have links to an increase in rates of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and ADHD, in children. But now, the new BMJ study has rejected these claims.

Also Read: Explained: How Safe Is Tylenol, The Drug Donald Trump Raised Concerns About

Common Uses Of Paracetamol

On this note, let us take a look at some of the common uses of paracetamol:

• Backache and joint pain
• Headache
• Migraine
• Muscle strains
• Period pain
• Toothache
• Aches and pains due to colds and flu

Paracetamol helps ease pain and lower high temperature during fever. It starts affecting about 30 minutes after it is taken. Its effects generally last for about 4 hours.

The Final Word

US President Donald Trump had earlier claimed that use of paracetamol in pregnancy may have links to autism or ADHD in children. Now, a new in-depth study – published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ) on Monday — discovered that there is no clear link between use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children.