Paracetamol

(Date: August 2023. Version: 3)

This factsheet has been written for members of the public by the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS). UKTIS is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of UK Health Departments. UKTIS has been providing scientific information to health care providers since 1983 on the effects that medicines, recreational drugs and chemicals may have on the developing baby during pregnancy.

Quick read

Paracetamol can be used throughout pregnancy to treat pain and high temperature (fever).

What is it?

Paracetamol is a painkiller and is also effective in bringing down a high temperature (fever).

What are the benefits of taking paracetamol?

Paracetamol is the first-choice painkiller for use in pregnancy. It can improve quality of life by helping to treat conditions including viral infections and headaches. Effective treatment of a high temperature during early pregnancy may also reduce the risk of the baby being born with a neural tube defect (such as spina bifida).

Are there any risks of taking paracetamol during pregnancy?

No. Paracetamol has been well-studied and there is no good evidence that it harms the baby.

Although some studies suggest that paracetamol use in pregnancy might be linked to behavioural problems in children, experts have shown problems with these studies that make the findings unreliable. Overall, there is no proof that paracetamol exposure in the womb affects a child’s behaviour.

Are there any alternatives to taking paracetamol?

Possibly. Other painkillers can be used (depending on the stage of pregnancy) and some mild conditions may not require drug treatment. However, paracetamol is considered the safest painkiller to use in pregnancy. If a different painkiller is being considered, women should speak to a pharmacist or doctor first to make sure that it is right for them.

What if I prefer not to take paracetamol during pregnancy?

Paracetamol is considered safe and there is no reason to avoid it during pregnancy if pain or a high temperature need treating.

Will my baby need extra monitoring?

All pregnant women in the UK are offered a detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of routine antenatal care. No extra monitoring for major birth defects is required following paracetamol use in pregnancy.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken paracetamol?

There is currently no evidence that paracetamol used by the father can harm the baby through effects on the sperm.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system allows women with a current or previous pregnancy to create a digitally secure ‘my bumps record’. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, and your pregnancy outcome. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Login/ to register.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken paracetamol?

We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father took paracetamol before or around the time your baby was conceived.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

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General information 

Up to 1 out of every 5 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, and 1 in 40 babies are born with a birth defect. These are referred to as the background population risks.  They describe the chance of these events happening for any pregnancy before taking factors such as the mother’s health during pregnancy, her lifestyle, medicines she takes and the genetic make up of her and the baby’s father into account.

Medicines use in pregnancy

Most medicines used by the mother will cross the placenta and reach the baby. Sometimes this may have beneficial effects for the baby.  There are, however, some medicines that can harm a baby’s normal development.  How a medicine affects a baby may depend on the stage of pregnancy when the medicine is taken. If you are on regular medication you should discuss these effects with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please ensure the doctor or health care professional treating you is aware of your pregnancy.

When deciding whether or not to use a medicine in pregnancy you need to weigh up how the medicine might improve your and/or your unborn baby’s health against any possible problems that the drug may cause. Our bumps leaflets are written to provide you with a summary of what is known about use of a specific medicine in pregnancy so that you can decide together with your health care provider what is best for you and your baby.   

Every pregnancy is unique. The decision to start, stop, continue or change a prescribed medicine before or during pregnancy should be made in consultation with your health care provider. It is very helpful if you can record all your medication taken in pregnancy in your hand held maternity records.

   

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace the individual care and advice of your health care provider. New information is continually becoming available. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that this information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, we cannot cover every eventuality and the information providers cannot be held responsible for any adverse outcomes following decisions made on the basis of this information. We strongly advise that printouts should NOT be kept for any length of time, or for “future reference” as they can rapidly become out of date.

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