Can I take Tylenol during pregnancy?

I saw in the news that suddenly there are claims that "taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to a child with autism." Oh dear, this must be alarming for pregnant mothers.

In fact, the main ingredient in Tylenol is acetaminophen, which is the most widely used fever and pain reliever in the world. It has been considered safe for pregnant women and is recommended as the first choice when experiencing fever, headaches, or severe body aches because other medications carry greater risks.

However, recent studies have started to raise questions about whether it is truly completely safe. Some large studies have reported that taking Tylenol for a long time or in high doses during pregnancy may be associated with a higher incidence of symptoms like autism or ADHD as the child grows. Researchers have hypothesized that this medication could affect fetal brain development, possibly involving hormonal actions or oxidative stress regulation.

That said, there is no need to panic too much. This is a 'correlation,' not a confirmed 'causation.' In other words, taking Tylenol does not guarantee that a child will be born with autism. In fact, having a high fever during pregnancy could be more harmful to the fetus, and the underlying condition that necessitated taking medication could also be a concern. The medical community has not yet reached a conclusion, so it should not be taken too definitively.

Therefore, organizations like the WHO and the US FDA do not prohibit pregnant women from using acetaminophen. Instead, they all say the same thing: "Use it only when absolutely necessary, at the lowest effective dose, and for the shortest duration possible." If a headache is unbearable and a high fever poses risks to both the mother and baby, using Tylenol may be the safer option.

The problem lies in the exaggerated articles circulating on the internet. Some articles or blogs write as if Tylenol is a direct cause of autism, which is scientifically premature. However, saying "it's safe, so you can take it freely" is also dangerous.

A gynecologist I know said, "It's correct to think of all medications as potentially harmful during pregnancy. However, if the mother and baby are in danger, then taking medication can actually be safer." That makes sense.

While there are research results suggesting that taking Tylenol during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism, causation has not been established. Nevertheless, there is no reason to take it unnecessarily, so it is wise to use it only when absolutely necessary and at the minimum dose.

Ultimately, this is not a matter that can be simply divided into "safe vs. dangerous."

There are conditions attached to the term "safe," and exaggerations in the term "dangerous."

During pregnancy, making careful and balanced choices is likely the safest answer.