Tylenol use in pregnancy not tied to autism, ADHD, review shows
An umbrella review of nine systematic reviews published in BMJ shows no link between maternal acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy and autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The study, led by University of Liverpool researchers, involved a review of research published within the past 10 years, up to September 30, 2025, to evaluate the quality and validity of the evidence and the strength of any association between the use of acetaminophen (sold as paracetamol in many countries) during pregnancy and the risks of autism and ADHD. "The current evidence base is insufficient to definitively link in utero exposure to paracetamol with autism and ADHD in childhood," the researchers concluded. "High-quality studies that control for familial and unmeasured confounders can help improve evidence on the timing and duration of paracetamol exposure, and for other child neurodevelopmental outcomes." They recommended that regulatory agencies, clinicians, pregnant women, parents, and those affected by autism and ADHD be informed about the poor quality of the existing reviews and the likelihood that any positive associations were driven by familial confounding.
