Acetaminophen News and Research

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The pain-reliever acetaminophen (also known as paracetomol) is one of the best-selling over-the-counter medications, used by more than 200 million Americans a year. It is sold under many brand names, including Tylenol, and is an ingredient in nearly 200 medications, both over-the-counter (such as Excedrin, Midol, NyQuil, and Sudafed) and prescription (such as Vicodin).

Experimental mRNA therapy protects the liver after acetaminophen overdose

When a patient arrives at the hospital with an acetaminophen overdose, it's often a race against the clock. The only FDA-approved antidote for overdose-related liver injury, N‑acetylcysteine, must be administered within hours to be effective.

28 Sep 2026

Study finds no causal link between prenatal paracetamol and neurodevelopmental disorders

Various studies over the years have linked prenatal use of the pain reliever paracetamol (acetaminophen) with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, but many of the studies were small, poorly designed, or found only weak associations

23 Sep 2026

Scientists found a distinct gut microbiome pattern in people with symptomatic diverticular disease

A multicenter Japanese study found that symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) was associated with reduced gut microbial diversity, increased abundance of the Ruminococcus gnavus group, and depletion of Coprococcus and other butyrate-producing bacteria. Predictive microbiome analysis also identified enrichment of pathways linked to exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and the cell cycle, although the observational design means these associations cannot establish causality.

25 Aug 2026

Poison center calls for liver injuries surged 400% between 2000 and 2024

Calls to poison centers involving liver injuries caused by medications, supplements, alcohol and other substances jumped nearly 400% between 2000 and 2024, according to a new study from UVA Health.

13 Aug 2026

Study finds no link between newborn circumcision and autism risk

In a cohort of nearly 3,000 boys followed from birth into childhood, young boys who were circumcised just after birth did not have a higher risk of autism, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

4 Aug 2026

Prenatal acetaminophen use not linked to adverse birth outcomes

There is no statistically significant evidence that taking acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, during pregnancy has a negative impact on how early a child is born or a child's weight at birth, according to new research led by environmental scientists at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

17 Jul 2026

Review highlights traditional Chinese medicine for Chikungunya fever management

Chikungunya fever, caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), has re‑emerged as a major global health threat. The 2025 outbreak in Guangdong, China – the largest local epidemic ever recorded – marks a critical epidemiological turning point.

9 Jul 2026

Study reveals why “linked with” and “increases risk” may mean the same to many readers

A preregistered experiment of 1,957 adults found that people endorsed “is linked with” and “increases the risk of” statements about Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism at similar rates. The findings suggest that poll responses using increased-risk language should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that the public believes Tylenol directly causes autism.

5 Jul 2026

Paracetamol during pregnancy does not raise autism or ADHD risk

A sibling-matched study finds no link between prenatal paracetamol use and autism or ADHD, reassuring its safety when clinically indicated during pregnancy.

2 Jul 2026

Prenatal paracetamol use does not increase child neurodevelopmental risks

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), along with Aston Pharmacy School's Professor Ian Chi-Kei Wong, have shown that using paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy does not increase a child's risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention‑deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

1 Jul 2026

Preoperative HMB supplement improves liver regeneration quality after major surgery

Taking a supplement before a hepatectomy, a surgery in which part of the liver is removed, may help the organ recover more quickly and become more resistant to further damage.

25 Jun 2026

New research reassures mothers on NSAID safety during the first trimester

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, taken during the first trimester of pregnancy are not associated with an increased risk of major birth defects, according to a new study published May 14th in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Sharon Daniel of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Clalit Health Services, Beer-Sheva, Israel, and colleagues.

15 May 2026

What the Health? From KFF Health News: A new CDC nominee, again

President Donald Trump this week nominated a former deputy surgeon general who has expressed support for vaccines to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

17 Apr 2026

Adding three simple amino acids boosts mRNA and CRISPR delivery

Lipid nanoparticles, or LNPs, best known as the delivery vehicle for the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines received by billions of people, are now at the center of a much larger medical revolution.

12 Mar 2026

Study tracks surge in leucovorin after White House promotion

A White House briefing in September 2025 that raised concerns about acetaminophen use during pregnancy and promoted the drug leucovorin as a potential autism treatment was followed by sharp changes in how doctors prescribed those medications nationwide, according to a new study.

6 Mar 2026

MET signaling plays a critical protective role in acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure

A new study has found that MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) signaling plays a critical protective role in acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure (ALF).

2 Feb 2026

No clear link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD

Maternal paracetamol use during pregnancy shows weak links to autism and ADHD, with family factors playing a more significant role, offering reassurance.

3 Dec 2025

No, taking paracetamol while pregnant doesn’t cause autism or ADHD, major review finds

Researchers reviewed nine systematic reviews on paracetamol use during pregnancy and found that while some studies suggested links to ADHD or autism, the evidence was of low quality and confounded by shared familial factors. Sibling-controlled analyses showed no causal relationship between prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

11 Nov 2025

Maternal paracetamol use during pregnancy not linked to autism or ADHD in children

Existing evidence does not clearly link paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy with autism or ADHD in children, finds an in-depth evidence review published by The BMJ today, in direct response to recent announcements around the safety of using paracetamol in pregnancy.

10 Nov 2025

Over-the-counter pain relievers outperform opioids after wisdom tooth extraction

Over-the-counter pain medications work as well or better than opioids after wisdom tooth extraction for both men and women, according to a Rutgers Health-led follow-up to a landmark paper on comparative pain relief.

6 Nov 2025