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Paracetamol is a type of analgesic (or painkiller) and antipyretic (reduces a fever) medication both commonly used and easily available. In fact, you can often...
Paracetamol is a type of analgesic (or painkiller) and antipyretic (reduces a fever) medication both commonly used and easily available. In fact, you can often buy it over the counter in a supermarket along with your groceries. Paracetamol has been prized for its ability to relieve mild to moderate pain and is generally a very safe and effective medication. However, can you take paracetamol when pregnant? If you follow the recommended dosage, then generally yes, it is safe to take during pregnancy and does not hurt the baby.
Paracetamol (as it is commonly known) or acetaminophen (the scientific name), is a commonly used medication to relieve mild-moderate pain and reduce fever in pregnancy for many reasons:
Yes, current clinical guidelines in the UK say that during pregnancy paracetamol is safe to use so long as it is taken at the recommended dose. It is important to acknowledge that during the vulnerable state of pregnancy, parents may feel worried about the safety of certain medications to the mother or the child. You may have even read that paracetamol can cause a child to have autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disorder. However, there is no scientific evidence that paracetamol can cause this.
Paracetamol has long been the first line option for managing mild to moderate pain during pregnancy. It is advised that you follow the recommended dose ranges on the medication package and use the lowest dose that is effective at managing your pain. Nevertheless, if you still feel apprehensive or worried about using paracetamol for pain management during pregnancy, it may be helpful to speak to your healthcare provider who can discuss some of your concerns.
The experience of pregnancy can vary wildly from person to person or even from different pregnancies. Some people do manage to go about daily activities fairly well without many symptoms, however for most people, pregnancy can come with some very uncomfortable experiences. If you relate to this, it is important to be kind to yourself and recognise that struggling with symptoms from your pregnancy is not a failure or a weakness at all.
So is it okay to take paracetamol while pregnant? Yes, getting help for pain and fever management is important for the health of both you and your baby. Pregnancy is a hugely significant medical event and is naturally demanding on your body regardless of how healthy you were before pregnancy. Thus, getting suitable pain management is crucial. Some cases where paracetamol might be helpful include:
The question of “how much paracetamol can I take while pregnant?” is a key question because despite how much we have emphasized that paracetamol is safe to take during pregnancy, there is an important caveat: paracetamol is safe during pregnancy as long as it is the appropriate and safe dose. Usually, for pregnant adults the dose is:
Now that we have discussed the dosage, let’s get on to the question of “how often can I take paracetamol in pregnancy?”. Generally, it is advised that you only take paracetamol when you need it and space each dose at least 4 hours apart. Read the medication package instructions to check how many tablets to take each time during pregnancy. This is because sometimes the dose in one tablet can vary between different paracetamol brands. If you feel like you need more paracetamol or the medication is not effectively relieving your pain, please consult your GP or healthcare provider who can assess the situation and recommend safe alternatives.
To manage mild to moderate pain, paracetamol is considered quite safe to take during pregnancy and is typically tolerated quite well. However, it is still worth going through some tips for how to use paracetamol safely if you are pregnant:
There is a risk that you accidentally take too much paracetamol which can be dangerous both to you and your child. However, current research does not support claims that appropriate paracetamol use in pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of the child having a developmental disorder. There is also no scientific evidence that taking paracetamol at a safe dose during pregnancy can cause your child to have autism or ADHD. Here at Meds For Less, we are committed to providing you with up to date and information backed by strong scientific research. If you have further concerns or questions about whether paracetamol is safe in pregnancy please consult your healthcare provider.
Despite being a generally safe, effective, and well tolerated medication, some groups of patients should speak to a healthcare professional before taking paracetamol. Some examples of cases include:
Paracetamol is usually a first line option for managing mild to moderate pain. So, in some cases, you might need to speak to your midwife or GP, for example:
So is paracetamol safe while pregnant? Overall paracetamol is considered a safe and effective option to manage mild to moderate pain in pregnancy. Make sure you follow your doctor’s advice or the instructions in the medication package for the recommended dosage. Using the lowest dose that is effective at managing pain when you need it is the best approach to use paracetamol safety. Despite its general safety, paracetamol is still a medication and should still be used carefully to avoid overdose. It may reassure you to know that for decades paracetamol has been used to manage pain in pregnancy and there is no strong evidence from the wealth of research done so far to suggest that paracetamol use in pregnancy can cause developmental problems in your child.