Medical professionals are sounding the alarm following statements by Donald Trump, in which he advised pregnant women to steer clear of Tylenol, erroneously associating the pain reliever with an uptick in autism cases among children. Organizations such as the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are standing by the safety of acetaminophen – also known as paracetamol – during pregnancy, countering Trump’s claim that expectant mothers who cannot “tough it out” without the medication should restrict their use.
“This suggestion that acetaminophen use in pregnancy is tied to autism is not only deeply concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible, considering the potentially damaging and confusing messages it could send to expectant mothers, especially those who may rely on this beneficial medicine during their pregnancy,” stated Steven Fleischman, the president of ACOG.
Aside from Trump, health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr aumented these concerns by advising physicians to use their “best judgment” when prescribing the lowest effective doses for the shortest time necessary. Despite assertions, a thorough examination of the current research does not support a causal link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism or attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children, noted the SMFM.
Tylenol has addressed the confusion directly on social media, acknowledging the conflicting information but affirming that credible independent scientific data shows no proven link between the use of acetaminophen and autism. Medical and public health organizations continue to concur.
Doctors, including pediatrician Edith Bracho-Sanchez, are also leveraging social media to reassure the public. Bracho-Sanchez stated in a video that the best available science does not suggest a connection between Tylenol use in pregnancy and an increased risk of autism.
Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration has approved leucovorin – a medication typically used for cancer and anemia – for the treatment of autistic children upon prescription. However, the American Psychiatric Association emphasized that leucovorin has not been recommended for autism treatment and that more research is required to understand its potential as an appropriate treatment.
The Association stressed the complexity of autism, urging against misinterpretation of a few studies as establishing causation. They affirmed that a strong base of evidence supports the safety of acetaminophen during pregnancy when taken as directed, and any decisions regarding treatment should be made between the patient and their physician.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/22/trump-tylenol-experts-autism
