Using Acetaminophen During Pregnancy May Increase Childrens Autism and Adhd Risk

Posted4 months agoActive4 months ago

spchampion2

57 points

15 comments

hsph.harvard.eduResearchstory

skepticalnegative

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PregnancyAcetaminophenAutismAdhd

Key topics

Pregnancy

Acetaminophen

Autism

Adhd

A Harvard study suggests a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and increased risk of autism and ADHD in children, sparking discussion about the safety of common pain relievers during pregnancy.

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01Story posted
Aug 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM EDT
4 months ago
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Aug 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM EDT
4h after posting
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9 comments in 0-6h
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04Latest activity
Aug 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM EDT
4 months ago
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Discussion (15 comments)

Showing 15 comments

semicognitive

4 months ago

1 reply

Overly decreasing inflammation in fetal brains causes over connection of neurons and leads to autism / adhd / schizophrenia?

flatline

4 months ago

Acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory.

apparent

4 months ago

1 reply

Where I live, tylenol is generally seen as less effective and less risky than aspirin or advil. I wonder how many pregnant mothers have taken it in a misguided attempt to reduce the risk of side effects.

brendoelfrendo

4 months ago

Acetaminophen is often recommended for pregnant women because NSAIDs carry risks in pregnancy that have been known for far longer. Indeed, the researchers here indicate that they recommend judicious use, not "broad limitation" because failing to manage fevers during pregnancy also carries risk. So there is no good option, only an understanding that all the options carry drawbacks and that we should go into maternal healthcare with our eyes open.

tomhow

4 months ago

1 reply

Earlier post from today of a different study about the effects of paracetamol/acetaminophen on foetal development:

Paracetamol disrupts early embryogenesis by cell cycle inhibition - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45006296 - Aug 2025 (167 comments)

brendoelfrendo

4 months ago

1 reply

I don't think this is a dupe of the linked post? This is a meta-analysis of several studies, while that other link goes to a specific study that happened to release a few days later.

tomhow

4 months ago

Yes, I recognized that after I posted the comment, then took the [dupe] tag off this one.

We still can't have this on the front page whilst (or soon after) the earlier one is active; this is what we call a "quasi-dupe". It's a different story/study but about the same underlying topic, so it's not really able to sustain a substantially new/different discussion.

The right thing to do is for someone to post a link to this study in the other thread, which has already been done: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45007686.

Mistletoe

4 months ago

1 reply

Oh good, we haven’t been taking that by the kilo since 1955.

uncircle

4 months ago

5 replies

I always wondered if in the US people take pills by the handful as they are commonly portrayed in movies and TV. I am pretty sure I have seen represented a person with an heachache fill their palm with 10 pills of clearly marked Tylenol bottles, and somehow always gulp them down with no water.

To this day I wonder if it’s artistic choice or that’s how people take pills over there. Would explain a few things.

mysterydip

4 months ago

I can only speak for myself and those I've observed, but I've never seen anyone outside movies do that. It's always one or two pills depending on recommended dose, with water to slide it down.

cgannett

4 months ago

I have had to tell several people I know they can't just take whatever OTC meds they want whenever they want with no side effects and it is always important to read the bottle's instructions/warnings.

thephyber

4 months ago

Being from the US, I don’t think the average person _does_ that (even with OTC meds).

But people in the middle of a health / mental health crisis aren’t thinking straight and may rush to try and relieve an issue with their body ASAP. Famous American celebrities have done this (Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, Prince, Tom Petty, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Anna Nicole Smith, etc) so it happens, but I’m not sure it’s a thing people do when they aren’t in crisis.

PetitPrince

4 months ago

I barely remember this trivia (a bit from Tom Scott podcast?) but the reason you don't see pills sold by the bottle in Europe is that pharmacy are required by law to sell them under blister. The reason is that this little it of friction apparently significantly reduce the suicide rate. And thus for me euro eyes having someone taking pills by the handful seems very wrong.

positr0n

4 months ago

Unlike most people I know, I am able to swallow a pill without water.

Like everyone I know, I just take one or two pills at a time when I have a headache or whatever according to package directions.

caminante

4 months ago

Ibuprofen is the big "no no" for pregnant women past first trimester.

Meanwhile, this is like a 'press release centipede' of AI summary links.

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ID: 45008733Type: storyLast synced: 11/20/2025, 4:47:35 PM

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