ArticlePloS one2022
Maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and neurobehavioral problems in offspring at 3 years: A prospective cohort study.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders using the Navigation Guide methodology.Environmental health : a global access science source · 2025Pooled it
- The interaction between paracetamol and ethanol during the early development of zebrafish.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Prenatal Nitrogen Oxide (NOEnvironmental science & technology · 2025Article
- Acetaminophen's Role in Autism and ADHD: A Mitochondrial Perspective.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- High-Dose 8% Capsaicin Patch in Treatment of Chronic Neuropathic Back Pain in a Pregnant Woman: A Case Report.Orthopedic reviews · 2025Article
- Hypothesis: 2 Major Environmental and Pharmaceutical Factors-Acetaminophen Exposure and Gastrointestinal Overgrowth of Clostridia Bacteria Induced By Ingestion of Glyphosate-Contaminated Foods-Dysregulate the Developmental Protein Sonic Hedgehog and Are Major Causes of Autism.Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) · 2024Article
- Prenatal Acetaminophen Exposure and its Associated Risk for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.Health psychology research · 2024Article
- Potential adverse actions of prenatal exposure of acetaminophen to offspring.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Review
- New Perspectives on the Adverse Effects of NSAIDs in Cancer Pain: An Italian Delphi Study from the Rational Use of Analgesics (RUA) Group.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAcetaminophen is one of the most commonly used drugs during pregnancy globally. Recent studies have reported associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and neurobehavioral problems in children, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. Little research has investigated these associations in preschool-age children or the potential confounding effects of prenatal stress. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and offspring neurobehavioral problems at the age of 3 years, with a focus on the potentially confounding effects of prenatal stress.
methodsWe used data from the First Baby Study, a prospective cohort study conducted in Pennsylvania, USA, with 2,423 mother-child pairs. Women reported medication use and completed a prenatal stress inventory during their third trimester. Child behavioral problems were measured at the age of 3 years, using the 7 syndrome scale scores from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for ages 1 ½ to 5.
resultsThere were 1,011 women (41.7%) who reported using acetaminophen during pregnancy. Children who were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy scored significantly higher on 3 of the 7 CBCL syndrome scales: withdrawn, sleep problems and attention problems. Scores on all 7 of the CBCL syndrome scales were significantly associated with prenatal stress. After adjustment for prenatal stress and other confounders, 2 syndrome scales remained significantly higher in children exposed to acetaminophen: sleep problems (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01-1.51) and attention problems (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.45).
conclusionsThese findings corroborate previous studies reporting associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and attention problems in offspring and also show an association with sleep problems at age 3 years. Because use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is common, these results are of public health concern and suggest caution in the use of medications containing acetaminophen during pregnancy.
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