Pregnant women should avoid taking acetaminophen often sold under the brand name Tylenol unless it is medically necessary, according to new consensus statement from a group of experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Israel, Europe, Canada, Brazil, and Australia.
Although the paper does not call for a ban of the drug during pregnancy, the authors urge both healthcare providers and patients to view and use acetaminophen with more caution. Even people who are not pregnant should be mindful of the potential risks of acetaminophen she adds. According to the authors of the statement, published September 23 in the journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology , research has emerged over the last several years that suggests it is possible for the drug to alter fetal development, which in some cases could result in neurological, urological, and reproductive disorders in the infant.
The group based their recommendations on a review of 29 studies that included the use of acetaminophen, 26 of which found evidence of birth defects. Because of that potential risk, the authors recommend that pregnant women should be counseled before or early in pregnancy with the following guidance:.
This guidance is important, says Neale. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. For years, acetaminophen also called paracetamol has been considered a safe medication to take for pain relief during pregnancy. Now, researchers warn that the common over-the-counter OTC pain reliever may interfere with fetal development, and they are advising pregnant people to be cautious about taking the drug.
In the new consensus statement published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, the researchers cite a growing body of evidence that suggests acetaminophen use during pregnancy can affect the fetus, and that it may lead to neurodevelopmental, reproductive, and urogenital disorders in children. The researchers are not necessarily saying that pregnant people should never use acetaminophen—rather, they advise that it should be used with caution and under the guidance of a doctor. Based on the evidence, the authors made the following recommendations:.
Acetaminophen is in a class of medications called analgesics pain relievers and antipyretics fever reducers. It works by changing the way the body senses pain, as well as by cooling the body.
Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in many pain-relieving medications, such as Tylenol. It can relieve mild to moderate pain from headaches , menstrual periods, colds, sore throats, backaches , toothaches, osteoarthritis , muscle aches, and reactions to vaccinations.
It is also used to reduce fevers. The Food and Drug Administration FDA is aware that the decision to use any medication during pregnancy can be complex. The authors of the most recent paper say that the drug has also been linked to genital malformations and early-onset puberty.
If you have mild aches and pains, Greves recommends trying different supportive measures first, like ice and stretching for back pain.
Acetaminophen use in small doses for a short time is generally considered safe in pregnancy. Still, you should always talk to your doctor about any medication that you plan to take—even OTC drugs—while you are pregnant.
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Top of the page. Topic Overview While you are pregnant, you may also have other common problems, like a cold, mild headache, backache, mild fever, or the flu, that are not caused by your pregnancy. Acetaminophen can be found in many forms and comes in different doses.
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