In a controversial statement, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that doctors will soon be advised not to prescribe the pain reliever Tylenol (paracetamol) to pregnant women. He cited a disputed link between the medication and autism, claiming that taking Tylenol “is no good” for expectant mothers and advising them to “fight like hell” to only use it for extreme fevers.
However, medical experts and health officials have quickly pushed back, with many calling the president’s comments “dangerous.” In the UK, Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated, “I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this,” while a statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) disputed the claim.
The president of ACOG, Dr. Steven Fleischman, said the claim “is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children.” He further added that past studies “show no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a milder notice to doctors, advising them to consider limiting the use of Tylenol while acknowledging that it remains the safest over-the-counter option for treating fever and pain in pregnant women. The FDA’s notice explicitly stated, “While an association between acetaminophen and autism has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature.”
In a statement to the BBC, Tylenol maker Kenvue also refuted the claims, stating that the “science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism” and expressing deep concern over the health risks the president’s statements pose to expecting mothers.
FDA to Approve New Autism Treatment
Speaking alongside President Trump, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the FDA would begin the process of initiating a safety label change for Tylenol. He also stated that the agency would soon approve leucovorin, a decades-old drug, for use as a treatment for children with autism who are deficient in folate. However, researchers have cautioned that more work is needed before any firm conclusions can be reached about the drug’s effectiveness in treating autism.
Source: BBC
