Expectant mothers might want to pause before reaching for pain relief at the pharmacy. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common behavioral condition, affects approximately 7 million children in the United States, with around a million new diagnoses recorded since 2016.The reason behind this surge in diagnoses remains under debate. However, a recent study published in Nature Mental Health suggests that the answer might lie in a widely used medication.Researchers examined blood samples from 307 pregnant women between 2006 and 2011 and discovered that children born to mothers who had taken acetaminophen during pregnancy showed an 18% prevalence of ADHD. In contrast, only 9% of children whose mothers had not used the over-the-counter pain reliever were diagnosed with the condition.Notably, the risk of an ADHD diagnosis was more than three times higher in children whose mothers had detectable acetaminophen levels in their blood.Acetaminophen and Its Potential RisksEven more striking was the gender disparity observed in the study. Daughters of mothers who took acetaminophen during pregnancy were six times more likely to develop ADHD, whereas the effect was less pronounced in sons.Acetaminophen is widely used to treat fevers, headaches, muscle aches, and menstrual cramps. It is the active ingredient in Tylenol, which is often recommended to expectant mothers to ease discomfort.An estimated 40% to 60% of pregnant women take Tylenol at some point during their pregnancy. While it is generally considered safe, lead study author Brennan Baker, a researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, pointed out that previous studies relied on self-reported data, which might not accurately reflect acetaminophen use.“This medication was approved decades ago and may need reevaluation by the FDA,” said study co-author Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s Research Institute. “Acetaminophen was never assessed for fetal exposure in relation to long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.”Conflicting Research on the ADHD LinkThe potential link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD remains controversial. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results. A large-scale Swedish study found no association, while Norwegian research identified a connection.In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Tylenol’s safety for pregnant women, stating that available studies were “too limited to make any recommendations.” However, the agency advised expectant mothers to consult their healthcare providers before taking the medication.“Because of this uncertainty, the use of pain medicines during pregnancy should be carefully considered,” the FDA stated. “We urge pregnant women to always discuss all medicines with their healthcare professionals before using them.”Given the ongoing debate, pregnant women may need to weigh the potential risks and benefits of acetaminophen use and explore alternative pain relief options under medical guidance. Further research is essential to clarify the long-term impact of this commonly used medication on fetal development.