Changes in the pattern of paracetamol use in the periconception period in a Danish cohort.
Paracetamol is the most commonly used over-the-counter drug in pregnancy. It is generally considered to be safe, but prolonged antenatal exposure has been associated with offspring short- and long-term morbidity. Our aim was to describe the pattern of paracetamol use with a focus on frequent ingestion (more than once a week), 3 months before and in early pregnancy. In this cohort, 8650 pregnant women responded to a web-based clinical questionnaire that included questions about drug use. Paracetamol was the most used drug before and in early pregnancy (35.2% and 6.5% of respondents, respectively). The proportion of frequent users decreased from 3.9% before to 0.9% in early pregnancy. Frequent paracetamol use was associated with smoking, co-morbidities, body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2), unplanned pregnancy, no education and inability to understand Danish. A significant decrease in the proportion of women with any paracetamol use in early pregnancy was noted after access to large packs was restricted by legislation.
Research Unit, Women's and Children's Health, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anne S
AS
Ersbøll
Research Unit, Women's and Children's Health, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mette
M
Hedegaard
Department of Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Peter
P
Damm
Department of Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Marianne
M
Johansen
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ann
A
Tabor
Research Unit, Women's and Children's Health, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Child, Family, and Reproductive Health, Departments of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Hanne K
HK
Hegaard
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen
Paracetamol; acetaminophen; antenatal care; exposure; pregnancy; prenatal care