Acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) is one of the most widely used pain relievers, including among pregnant women.
Research published in the journal American Family Physician even called acetaminophen “the pain reliever of choice during pregnancy,” and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data suggest 65 percent of pregnant women use the drug.
Acetaminophen was most commonly used to treat pain, fever and flu symptoms among pregnant women in a recent study led by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo.
However, it’s generally best to avoid any medications during pregnancy, including acetaminophen, unless they’re absolutely necessary.
When used during pregnancy, even this “safe” over-the-counter (OTC) drug, researchers found, may be associated with an increased risk of asthma in children.
Prenatal Acetaminophen Exposure Linked to Asthma
Researchers analyzed data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, which includes 114,500 mother/child pairs. Both prenatal acetaminophen exposure and use of acetaminophen during infancy were associated with an increased risk of asthma at ages 3 and 7.
