Trump officials are expected to link the use of pain reliever Tylenol in pregnant women to autism, according to US media reports. At an Oval Office event on Monday, the US president will reportedly advise pregnant women in the US to only take Tylenol, known as paracetamol elsewhere, to relieve high fevers. At the Charlie Kirk memorial service on Sunday, Trump said he had an 'amazing' announcement coming on autism, saying it was 'out of control' but they might now have a reason why. Some studies have shown a link between pregnant women taking Tylenol and autism, but these findings are inconsistent and do not prove the drug causes autism.
Tylenol is a popular brand of pain relief medication sold in the United States, Canada and some other countries. Its active ingredient is acetaminophen, which is called paracetamol outside North America. Tylenol maker Kenvue has defended the use of the drug in pregnant women. In a statement to the BBC, it said: 'We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.' Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women, it added, and without it, women face a dangerous choice between suffering through conditions like fever or using riskier alternatives. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology said doctors across the country have consistently identified Tylenol as one of the only safe pain relievers for pregnant women. '[S]tudies that have been conducted in the past show no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues,' the group has said.
Scientists attribute at least part of the rise in autism diagnoses to increased awareness and an expanding definition of the disorder, with ongoing research exploring environmental factors. While the debate continues, many researchers stress that the causes of autism remain complex and multifaceted.
Tylenol is a popular brand of pain relief medication sold in the United States, Canada and some other countries. Its active ingredient is acetaminophen, which is called paracetamol outside North America. Tylenol maker Kenvue has defended the use of the drug in pregnant women. In a statement to the BBC, it said: 'We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.' Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women, it added, and without it, women face a dangerous choice between suffering through conditions like fever or using riskier alternatives. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology said doctors across the country have consistently identified Tylenol as one of the only safe pain relievers for pregnant women. '[S]tudies that have been conducted in the past show no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues,' the group has said.
Scientists attribute at least part of the rise in autism diagnoses to increased awareness and an expanding definition of the disorder, with ongoing research exploring environmental factors. While the debate continues, many researchers stress that the causes of autism remain complex and multifaceted.
