A comprehensive study published in The Lancet on Friday has concluded that taking acetaminophens, such as Tylenol, during pregnancy does not increase the risk of a child developing autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities.
This research analyzed data from 43 high-quality studies involving hundreds of thousands of children, providing a rigorous assessment that contradicts recent health warnings issued by the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Lead researcher Asma Khalil, a Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, stated that the findings confirm paracetamol remains a safe and essential option for managing pain and fever.
“The message is clear: paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided,” Khalil noted, emphasizing that it remains the primary recommendation for pregnant patients.
The study serves as a direct response to a September press conference where Donald Trump claimed that “taking Tylenol is not good” and suggested the FDA would discourage its use. Following those remarks, the FDA initiated a process to update the medication’s labeling to reflect potential neurological risks. However, medical experts have largely dismissed those concerns, citing a long history of safe use dating back to the 1960s.
Kenvue, the parent company of Tylenol, has also defended the medication’s safety profile. In a statement addressing the controversy, the company asserted, “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism.” They further argued that without access to this medication, pregnant women might be forced to endure untreated fevers or use riskier alternatives that could jeopardize the health of both mother and baby.
By comparing over 406,000 children assessed for intellectual disabilities, the researchers found that the incidence of these conditions did not vary between mothers who used the medication and those who did not.
These findings reinforce the current medical consensus that acetaminophen remains the safest pharmaceutical choice for pain management during pregnancy.
