Acetaminophen Use by Mom or Dad Linked to ADHD (Premium)
ACN’s advisory board member, Dr. William Shaw, wrote an important, forward-thinking article in 2013 that explained how the increase in ADHD, autism, and asthma could be linked to the popular medication acetaminophen (i.e.,Tylenol). See Tylenol: A Major Culprit in the Autism, ADHD, and Asthma Epidemic .
This was followed by a scientific article by Dr. Shaw in 2015, published by Great Plains Laboratory where he is the director: “Evidence that increased Acetaminophen Use in Genetically Vulnerable Children Appears to be a Major Cause of the Epidemics of Autism, Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity, and Autism.”
Now, a large scale study just released in Pediatrics confirms Dr. Shaw’s work and is receiving media attention. While Tylenol is the most popular brand of acetaminophen, check out the link provided below for a full a detailed listing.
Read about the new research that is so important for couples wanting to bear children, and for all pregnant women.
[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’Premium Article Guest Message’ user_error=’Premium Article Basic Message’ ]
More than 100,000 children and parents were included in the research.
Mothers with long-term use (more than 29 days) of acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy had more than double the risk of having a child with ADHD. Heavy use less than 29 days also showed an increase in ADHD in offspring.
And, when the father had taken it for more than 29 days, there was also a two-fold greater risk of the child exhibiting symptoms of ADHD. From the report:
The association between paternal preconceptional acetaminophen use and ADHD was similar to the association between maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and ADHD. [L]ong-term acetaminophen use during pregnancy is related to more than a twofold increase in risk for offspring ADHD,” after adjusting for genetic risk factors, indications for the mother’s acetaminophen use, use of the drug before pregnancy, and other potential confounders.” The article was published online and is in the November issue of Pediatrics.
In an accompanying commentary, Mark L. Wolraich, MD, who was not involved in the study, commented: “The authors are careful to point out that their results from a relational study cannot establish a causal relationship between prenatal acetaminophen exposures and ADHD in the offspring, but they do suggest the possibility and raise the need for further study and more cautious consideration of acetaminophen use during pregnancy.” Read more
Check within your own country for the brands of medications that contain acetaminophen. Example from USA here.
Full research article (available online November 1, 2017)
[/am4show]