Recently, parents have had a lot of new questions about Tylenol® (acetaminophen). Stories in the news and on social media make it confusing. Make sure the information you are getting is coming from experts. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists know a lot about acetaminophen from experience and from years of safe use.
Here is what we know: Acetaminophen is a safe, trusted, and effective medicine for children and pregnant women when used as directed. It helps with fever and pain, prevents the need for riskier medicines, and has been used worldwide for decades
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Experts
Recently, parents have had a lot of new questions about Tylenol® (acetaminophen). Stories in the news and on social media make it confusing. Make sure the information you are getting is coming from experts. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists know a lot about acetaminophen from experience and from years of safe use.
Here is what we know: Acetaminophen is a safe, trusted, and effective medicine for children and pregnant women when used as directed. It helps with fever and pain, prevents the need for riskier medicines, and has been used worldwide for decades
A quick look
From CHOP’s Center for Public Health Readiness & Response
- Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists know a lot about Tylenol® (acetaminophen) from experience — it has been used safely for more than 70 years.
- Acetaminophen is safe to give to children to help with pain or fever when used as directed. It is often the best — safest and most effective — choice, especially compared to alternatives.
- There is no credible evidence that acetaminophen causes autism or ADHD. Watch a video about this >
- Talk to your doctor for tips on safely using acetaminophen for pain or fever for your child’s specific circumstance.
What is acetaminophen?
- It is a medicine that is commonly used to treat pain and lower fever.
- You may know it by another name like Tylenol® or FeverAll®.
- Acetaminophen is one of the few pain medications that is safe to use during pregnancy, and for babies and children.
Why are there new worries about acetaminophen? Does it cause autism?
- There is no credible evidence that acetaminophen causes autism or ADHD.
- There is no singular identified cause of autism.
- The government recently called for more research on how acetaminophen affects babies before they are born if their mothers use it during pregnancy.
Is Tylenol (acetaminophen) safe to give to my child?
Yes!
- It is safe to give babies, children and teenagers.
- It is safe to use when breastfeeding.
- It has been used safely for 70 years to treat pain and fever.
- Used only as needed, at the right dose, it may be the safest option for your child.
Is it safe to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) while pregnant?
Yes. When used as directed, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is still considered the safest over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer in pregnancy by doctors who care for pregnant women.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) continue to recommend acetaminophen as a first-line option to treat pain and fever during pregnancy in appropriate doses. Fever and pain when untreated can be harmful to pregnancies. Like all medicines, it’s always best to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time needed.
Tell your nurse or doctor right away if you are pregnant and have a fever.
Which doctor groups have said that acetaminophen is safe for pregnant women and children?
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- The American Academy of Family Practitioners (AAFP)
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM)
- The World Health Organization (WHO)
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA)
What are the options I have other than acetaminophen?
- Acetaminophen should only be used when needed and when suggested by your doctor.
- Acetaminophen can keep your child from needing more risky medicines to treat pain after an ER visit or after surgery.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, and others) can also help with pain and fever, but it has risks and the groups below should only use it with a doctor’s approval:
- Pregnant women.
- Babies younger than 6-months-old.
- Children with some stomach or kidney conditions.
- Children with some bleeding troubles.
- Children with chicken pox.
- Children who are allergic to ibuprofen.
- Aspirin is not as safe for fever or pain.
- Opioid drugs, like morphine or oxycodone, have known risks and should only be used for severe pain with supervision from a doctor or nurse.
- If you are not sure what to use, please talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Should I stop taking Tylenol if I’m pregnant?
- Do not stop or change your medicine without talking to your doctor.
- Fever during pregnancy can be harmful to both mother and baby. In many cases, treating fever with acetaminophen is safer than leaving it untreated.
- If you are pregnant and have frequent pain or fever, ask your provider what is best for you.
Is Tylenol (acetaminophen) ever dangerous?
- Acetaminophen is very safe when used at the right dose for no more than 5 days.
- Taking too much acetaminophen can hurt the liver – if you are worried that somebody got too much you can call a Poison Control Center for help. 1-800-222-1222.
- Be careful when taking multiple medications at the same time. Many common cough, cold, and pain medicines may contain acetaminophen, and it is important to always read the labels so you don’t give too much by mistake.
- Acetaminophen should not be used by children with allergies to acetaminophen.
- Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if:
- Your child has liver problems or malnutrition.
- Your child has an eating disorder.
- Your child has a metabolic problem like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD deficiency) or phenylketonuria (PKU).