Side effects of Paracetamol

In general it can be said that when paracetamol is taken in the correct dosage, side effects occur only rarely (? 0.01% to <0.1) to very rarely (? 0.01% with individual cases).

Possible side effects are: In this case, immediate discontinuation of the therapy is mandatory. The occurrence of the mentioned side effects is in principle also possible during pregnancy.

Increase of certain liver enzymes (e.g. transaminases)
Bronchospasm (very rare, mostly in known asthmatics (analgesic asthma))
Serious changes in blood composition, thrombocytopenia (insufficient platelet count), agranulocytosis
However, hypersensitivity reactions (very rare), as simple skin redness or more severe symptoms (e.g. urticaria or anaphylactic shock) are also possible.

Consequences of paracetamol for the baby

Taking paracetamol has no known direct effects on the health and physical and mental development of the baby. As long as the drug is taken in the stated dosage and there are no maternal restrictions such as liver disease, paracetamol can be taken at any stage of pregnancy without concern. However, too frequent or overdosed intake may cause damage to both maternal and fetal organs.

In the worst case, this can have life-threatening consequences for the expectant child and the pregnant woman. If you accidentally take too high a dosage, a doctor must be consulted as soon as possible. According to the current state of science, there is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy later increases the risk of ADHD in the child.

The disease is generally not rarely diagnosed and can have many different causes. However, taking paracetamol is not one of them. This misconception is quite common, however, as recently published studies from Scandinavia and Great Britain suggest a connection between the intake of paracetamol and the occurrence of behavioral problems in the child.

However, on closer examination and evaluation of the study results, no cause-and-effect relationship can be identified between paracetamol intake and the abnormalities in children. Experts therefore continue to regard the drug as the painkiller of choice during pregnancy. This topic might also be of interest to you:

Causes of ADHS