On September 22nd, President Trump along with Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a claim stating Tylenol leads to autism. The announcement was met with fear and skepticism from citizens, especially pregnant women who the claim was mainly targeted towards, due to the widely used medicine being in households for years. However, recently it has been revealed that these claims aren’t scientifically proven. In fact, Dr. Peter Hotez a professor and researcher at the Texas Medical Center, stated how some studies actually, “…show a protective effect, meaning Tylenol may actually prevent autism.”
While the effect of acetaminophen on neurological disorders such as autism or ADHD has been studied, there is no documented causal link between the two. Studies that do display causation have identified flaws in their reliability. In recent weeks, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made an additional statement contradicting his previous claims with President Trump, adding that, “the causative association between Tylenol given in pregnancy and the perinatal period is not sufficient to say it definitely causes autism, but it is suggestive.”
Numerous researchers have also spoken out about the false nature of these claims and assure consumers that Tylenol is still the safest fever reducer during pregnancy. The President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) Dr. Steven Fleischman stated, “In more than two decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children.” ACOG still suggests that acetaminophen be used during pregnancy. Other researchers go so far as to argue that not using Tylenol because of the supposed risks that it imposes on prenatal children is unwise, highlighting the fact that an untreated fever can cause more harm to the baby and mother.
In accordance with the alleged claims, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that they would soon release a label change on acetaminophen advising pregnant women that use of the drug could be associated with a risk in neurological disorders. Kenvue, the maker company of Tylenol, pushed back on this label change insisting that, “Adoption of the proposed labeling revisions would be arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law.”
Currently no change has been made to the Tylenol label and despite their assertion, the FDA website states that, “To date, FDA has not found clear evidence that appropriate use of acetaminophen during pregnancy causes adverse pregnancy, birth, neurobehavioral, or developmental outcomes.” It’s evident that despite the multiple statements that suggest otherwise, Tylenol is still safe to use. Hotez reaffirmed this idea: “Right now Tylenol is not on any autism scientist’s priority list.”
