Which medicines can you take in pregnancy?

The NHS says never to stop a prescribed medicine without checking, because that could harm both you and your baby.

In the UK, the Bumps website (medicinesinpregnancy.org) has leaflets on individual medicines. A health professional can also contact the UK Teratology Information Service for you.

United States. In September 2025 the FDA began the process of changing the label on acetaminophen, saying its use in pregnancy may be associated with a higher risk of autism and ADHD. It also said a causal link has not been established, that some studies point the other way, and that it’s still reasonable to use it in certain situations. It noted that high fevers can pose a risk.

United Kingdom. The UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, said in September 2025 that there is no evidence paracetamol in pregnancy causes autism, and that it remains recommended when used as directed. It added that untreated pain and fever can pose risks. Bumps says the best evidence doesn’t show that it causes autism.

So the two regulators word this differently. Both still accept that it can be used, and neither says a link has been proven. Talk to your midwife or doctor if you’re unsure.

Follow the pack. The NHS says not to take it for more than 3 days unless a doctor tells you to, and not to combine it with other products that contain paracetamol, such as cold and flu remedies. A temperature of 38°C or above in pregnancy needs checking, so call your midwife or doctor.

Bumps says taking it before week 20 is unlikely to harm your baby. From 20 weeks it can reduce the fluid around the baby and make a blood vessel near the baby’s heart, the ductus arteriosus, close too early. Anyone who needs it after 20 weeks should be monitored by a fetal medicine specialist. Tell your midwife or doctor if you’ve taken it.

The CDC recommends not using cannabis in pregnancy, in any form, and says the effects of CBD are unknown. ACOG says it crosses the placenta and may disrupt the baby’s brain development. It’s been linked with low birth weight, and ACOG says use in pregnancy can increase the risk of stillbirth and infant death, though it notes that studies aren’t always clear.

ACOG also says there’s no evidence that cannabis helps morning sickness, and that an FDA-approved medicine exists. Read what else can help.

If you used it once before you knew you were pregnant, the NHS says to try not to worry, because it’s unlikely to have affected your baby. Tell your midwife or doctor, and ask them for support if you find it hard to stop. In the UK, FRANK is available at any time on 0300 123 6600.