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Does Paracetamol During Pregnancy Cause ADHD?
The unconvincing data behind new headlines.
Pregnancy is a scary time. Everyone you meet seems to have some sort of terrifying story about the experience, and there are so many new things that you have to worry about. Everyone is shocked the first time they see the list of foods that are considered off-limits during pregnancy these days — we all know about sushi and soft cheese, but store-bought salad, sprouts, and the myriad other no-nos are usually a bit of a surprise.
Added to all of that is the issue with medications. Many medicines that we use on a regular basis — including quite a few supplements and the like — are either known to be harmful to developing fetuses or haven’t been evaluated enough for us to be sure. This means that the list of things that you can take during pregnancy for anything from asthma to migraines is often quite short.
And according to new headlines, that list has shrunk even further. There are numerous outlets reporting that paracetamol/acetaminophen, one of the very few drugs considered very safe during pregnancy, may actually cause children to get ADHD. It’s quite worrying for anyone who is or is ever planning to be pregnant.
Fortunately, the news isn’t quite as unnerving as it first seems. While there is a new study showing some…
