Gov’t Clears Air on Paracetamol Use During Pregnancy

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has moved to allay concerns over the safety of paracetamol use during pregnancy.

In a statement on Thursday, October 2, PPB Acting CEO Ahmed Mohamed reassured expectant mothers that the drug remains safe when used under medical supervision.

He explained that the drug, also known as acetaminophen, continues to be a recommended option for managing pain and fever in pregnant women.

"The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) wishes to address concerns regarding the use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy. It reassures the public that paracetamol remains a recommended medicine for the relief of pain and fever in pregnant women, provided it is taken as directed by a qualified healthcare professional," he said.

Mohamed noted that while some studies have suggested a possible link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and developmental conditions in children, there is no definitive proof to support such claims.

"Paracetamol is one of the most widely used medicines in Kenya and globally. While some studies have suggested possible links between its use during pregnancy and conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, there is no conclusive scientific evidence confirming these associations," he added.

Mohamed further emphasized that the PPB monitoring division has not received any reports locally that connect paracetamol use in pregnancy with such conditions.

"The PB's Pharmacovigilance Division has not received any reports linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to ASD or ADHD. The Division continues to monitor the safety of medicines used during pregnancy to protect the health of mothers and children," he further said.

As such, PPB urged pregnant women to only use paracetamol when necessary, strictly in the right dosage, and only when prescribed by a healthcare provider.

The board also called on health professionals to provide counselling to expectant mothers regarding the safe use of paracetamol and other medicines during pregnancy.

This comes months after PPB cautioned Kenyans against the misuse of antibiotics in the treatment of common viral infections such as colds and flu.

In a statement on Thursday, August 28, the regulator warned that antibiotics are ineffective against viral illnesses and urged the public to adopt proper health practices instead.

"Got a cold or flu? No antibiotics needed. If you're suffering from a viral infection like the cold or flu, you can feel better without antibiotics. 

"What to do? Rest and stay hydrated, eat nutritious food and ask your healthcare professional for advice on symptom relief. Antibiotics don’t work against viruses. Let’s use them responsibly," the statement read.

A week earlier, PPB had raised alarm over the off-label use of Semaglutide-containing compounds for weight loss, warning Kenyans about serious health risks associated with unsupervised use of the prescription diabetes medication.

In a statement released on Tuesday, August 19, the national medicines regulatory authority issued a comprehensive safety alert addressing growing concerns about the misuse of the drug commonly known to the public as Ozempic.

"The Board wishes to bring to the attention of the public that Semaglutide is a Prescription-Only Medicine and its unsupervised or off-label use may result in serious health outcomes," the statement reads.

The regulatory body specifically noted that Semaglutide is approved for treating adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus that remains insufficiently controlled through other means.

However, safety concerns have emerged particularly when the medication is used outside its approved medical purposes.

According to the PPB's safety alert, typical side effects of Semaglutide misuse include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), eye conditions, acid reflux, nausea, and intestinal obstruction.