Do you use paracetamol often? Study says it can affect your unborn baby's health; here's how

Just a few months after a study claimed that the commonly used painkiller paracetamol can have adverse effects on health if consumed often, a new study published in the scientific journal 'Nature Mental Health,' accuses it of something new. According to the research team, there is growing evidence for the drug's link with adverse neurological outcomes in unborn babies. Quoting the study, the University of Washington Medical Centre said that if there is a 'prenatal exposure' to paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen), a child can develop Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

The study, funded partly by the National Institutes of Health, was published early this month. Research showed that more than 70% of women use the drug, which is a major ingredient in many painkillers, during pregnancy to handle fever and pain. According to the lead author of the study, acetaminophen was never evaluated enough for 'fetal exposures in relation to longer-term neurodevelopmental impacts. 

What they found
In the study, they found that while the rate of ADHD is 9% in children whose mothers didn't use the drug during pregnancy, it was 18% in those who did. Apparently, the link was stronger in girls than in boys. The study couldn't find a reason for its increased occurrence in girls. 
What should mothers do, instead?
According to the authors of the study, while visiting doctors, to-be moms should get clarity on the dosage of any drugs that contain acetaminophen. They should also be asked what kind of pain it helps manage. For pregnant women who have migraines, another class of drugs called triptans is safer and more effective. The researchers also say that the FDA should re-evaluate the risks of the medicine during pregnancy. 

Earlier side effects
A few months ago, the experts at the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices in Berlin said they discovered the condition called metabolic acidosis (which can result in severe reactions in kidney patients as well) as a major side effect of the drug. Apparently, it causes hyperacidification of blood. Liver damage, allergic reactions like breathing issues, swelling and itching and low blood counts are also some of the reactions reported in the past by those who turned to the drug often for pain relief.