Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think?
Abstract Paracetamol is used by more than 50% of women worldwide during pregnancy; headache representing the most frequent indication. Several studies report that long‐term exposure to paracetamol in utero is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, indicating a dose–response...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14557 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850211323493744640 |
|---|---|
| author | Katinka Nilsen Anne Cathrine Staff Stine Kleppe Krogsrud |
| author_facet | Katinka Nilsen Anne Cathrine Staff Stine Kleppe Krogsrud |
| author_sort | Katinka Nilsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Paracetamol is used by more than 50% of women worldwide during pregnancy; headache representing the most frequent indication. Several studies report that long‐term exposure to paracetamol in utero is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, indicating a dose–response effect. However, less or no risk is found to be associated with short‐term exposure. Paracetamol most likely crosses the placenta through passive diffusion, and there are several possible mechanisms for how paracetamol might affect fetal brain development. Although the literature suggests an association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, the role of confounders cannot be ruled out. Consequently, as a precaution, we believe that pregnant women should be recommended ideally to only use paracetamol to treat conditions that might harm the fetus, such as severe pain or a high fever. This Comment aims to put focus on the potential fetal risks of paracetamol exposure in utero. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea7b59da8f4e4233bbfe99120a2c0163 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0001-6349 1600-0412 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea7b59da8f4e4233bbfe99120a2c01632025-08-20T02:09:34ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122023-06-01102665265610.1111/aogs.14557Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think?Katinka Nilsen0Anne Cathrine Staff1Stine Kleppe Krogsrud2Faculty of Medicine University of Oslo Oslo NorwayFaculty of Medicine University of Oslo Oslo NorwaySchool of Health Sciences Kristiania University College Oslo NorwayAbstract Paracetamol is used by more than 50% of women worldwide during pregnancy; headache representing the most frequent indication. Several studies report that long‐term exposure to paracetamol in utero is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, indicating a dose–response effect. However, less or no risk is found to be associated with short‐term exposure. Paracetamol most likely crosses the placenta through passive diffusion, and there are several possible mechanisms for how paracetamol might affect fetal brain development. Although the literature suggests an association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, the role of confounders cannot be ruled out. Consequently, as a precaution, we believe that pregnant women should be recommended ideally to only use paracetamol to treat conditions that might harm the fetus, such as severe pain or a high fever. This Comment aims to put focus on the potential fetal risks of paracetamol exposure in utero.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14557attention deficit/hyperactivity disorderin uteroneurodevelopmental outcomesparacetamolpregnancyprenatal paracetamol exposure |
| spellingShingle | Katinka Nilsen Anne Cathrine Staff Stine Kleppe Krogsrud Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think? Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in utero neurodevelopmental outcomes paracetamol pregnancy prenatal paracetamol exposure |
| title | Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think? |
| title_full | Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think? |
| title_fullStr | Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think? |
| title_short | Paracetamol use in pregnancy: Not as safe as we may think? |
| title_sort | paracetamol use in pregnancy not as safe as we may think |
| topic | attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in utero neurodevelopmental outcomes paracetamol pregnancy prenatal paracetamol exposure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14557 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katinkanilsen paracetamoluseinpregnancynotassafeaswemaythink AT annecathrinestaff paracetamoluseinpregnancynotassafeaswemaythink AT stinekleppekrogsrud paracetamoluseinpregnancynotassafeaswemaythink |