Tylenol and Pregnancy

Studies on Tylenol and pregnancy suggest that the drug does not increase the risk of miscarriages, birth defects, or any other problems. Taking too much Tylenol, however, can cause liver failure and death of the fetus. You should never take more than 4000 mg in a 24-hour period. As long as the drug is used properly, Tylenol and pregnancy is generally a safe combination.

 

Tylenol and Pregnancy: An Overview

Tylenol® (acetaminophen) is a non-prescription medication used as a pain reliever or fever reducer. It is probably safe for use during pregnancy. In fact, many healthcare providers consider Tylenol to be the safest pain reliever/fever reducer for use during pregnancy.
 

Tylenol and Pregnancy Category B

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been thoroughly studied in pregnant humans but do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Pregnancy Category B is also given to medications that caused problems in animal studies but have been shown to be safe for humans.
 
Many studies have suggested that Tylenol does not increase the risk of miscarriages, birth defects, decreased intelligence, or any other problems. However, taking too much Tylenol can cause problems, including liver failure and death of the fetus. It is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions about how much Tylenol to take. In any case, you should never take more than 4000 mg of Tylenol in any 24-hour period. This includes acetaminophen from other sources, such as other pain relievers or cold, cough, or allergy products.
 
If you have liver disease, Tylenol may not be the best choice for you (during pregnancy or any other time), depending on the severity of your liver disease.
 
(Tylenol and Pregnancy Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;