Babies of women who took acetaminophen—a common painkiller marketed in the U.S. under the brand name Tylenol—near the end of pregnancy had a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders or with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry.
The study, conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, cross referenced blood samples taken from the mother after the baby’s birth and samples taken from the babies’ umbilical cords, which were used to assess how much acetaminophen the mother had ingested.
A mother-to-be who takes Tylenol during their pregnancy is liable to have some of the medication reach a developing fetus, as the drug has been demonstrated to cross the placenta, according to United Press International (UPI).
www.newsweek.com/tylenol-pregnancy-adhd-autism-study-1468948