Prenatal acetaminophen use has been linked to sleep and attention problems in preschoolers, according to a new study.
Acetaminophen is a common over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is often used by pregnant women to relieve pain and fever.
Previous research has linked prenatal acetaminophen use to an increased risk of ADHD, but the new study is the first to link it to sleep and attention problems.
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, followed more than 1,000 pregnant women in Denmark. The women were asked about their acetaminophen use during pregnancy, and their children were assessed for sleep and attention problems at age 3.
Overall, the study found that maternal acetaminophen use was linked to an increased risk of sleep problems and inattention in 3-year-olds.
The study did not find a link between acetaminophen use and other attention problems, such as hyperactivity.
The authors say the findings “support the idea that prenatal acetaminophen exposure may have long-term effects on child neurodevelopment.”
They say more research is needed to confirm the findings and to determine whether the effects are caused by the drug itself or by the underlying conditions that necessitate its use.
In the meantime, the authors say pregnant women should “be aware of the potential risks” of acetaminophen use.
A new study has found that the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy may be associated with sleep and attention problems in early childhood.
Acetaminophen is a common pain reliever and fever reducer that is used by many pregnant women. However, there has been growing evidence that acetaminophen may have adverse effects on child development.
The new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, analyzed data from over 4,000 mother-child pairs. The researchers found that prenatal acetaminophen use was associated with an increased risk of sleep problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in early childhood.
The findings add to the growing body of evidence linking prenatal acetaminophen use to child development problems. Pregnant women should speak with their doctor before taking any medication, including acetaminophen.
