Acetaminophen May Be Less Safe During Pregnancy Than Previously Thought - Gizmodo

An international group of scientists is warning pregnant people about the over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen.

Some studies over the years have suggested that acetaminophen may have its own unique risks during pregnancy.

And in an article published Thursday in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, some scientists are now saying that enough evidence has been accumulated that these potential risks have to be taken more seriously.

Summarizing and citing various animal and population studies, they argue that acetaminophen use during pregnancy could alter fetal development, mainly through the drug or its byproducts acting as a hormone-disrupting chemical.

The group isn’t saying that acetaminophen should be banned for pregnant people, and they rightly note that it’s the only front-line option available for treating pain and fever near the end of pregnancy, which are important conditions that shouldn’t be ignored.

Some outside scientists have already expressed disagreement with the statement, arguing that the evidence for any possible harm from acetaminophen isn’t as strong as the group claims it to be.