Stock image of a pregnant woman cradling her stomach.Photo:Getty
Getty
ChildhoodADHDhas been linked to prenatal exposure toacetaminophen, which is considered safe to take during pregnancy under current guidelines, according to a study.
Researchers took blood samples from 307 mothers between 2006 and 2011 and followed their children for up to 10 years. They later determined that 18% of the children of the mothers who did take acetaminophen had ADHD, while 9% of the children of the mothers who did not use the medicine had the disorder.
Stock image of acetaminophen pills.Getty
ADHD, which is more commonly diagnosed in boys, was six times more likely to be found in girls whose mothers took acetaminophen while pregnant, the study said.
Among boys, there was a “positive but nonsignificant association” between ADHD and prenatal exposure, the findings continued.
Acetaminophen is categorized as a “Pregnancy Category B” substance — meaning it “is considered safe for use during pregnancy,” according to a report inThe National Library of Medicine.
It’s the"most widely used medicationduring pregnancy," with an estimated 62% of mothers taking it, the organization added.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Stock image of a pregnant mother.Getty
“Acetaminophen was never evaluated for fetal exposures in relation to long-term neurodevelopmental impacts," she added.
But, as lead authorBrennan Baker, a researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, pointed out, acetaminophen ”is really the only option to control fever or pain during pregnancy."
“There is obviously more work that needs to be done in this area,” he continued. “And we need to continually update our guidance.”
source: people.com
