A major new review of the science finds that taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy is not linked to autism or other developmental disorders in children, contradicting recent claims from the Trump administration that sparked widespread confusion.
“Science cleared Tylenol where politics raised alarm.”
Researchers writing in the respected medical journal The Lancet looked carefully at 43 high-quality studies involving hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
After reviewing all the evidence, they found no reliable link between pregnant people using acetaminophen and higher rates of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disabilities in their children.
“Hundreds of thousands of pregnancies were reviewed.”
Lead researcher Asma Khalil summed it up simply: the evidence was consistent — Tylenol did not increase risk.
The findings matter because last September, federal health officials advised pregnant women to avoid Tylenol, suggesting it could be connected to autism.
That warning worried many expecting parents, especially since it broke with decades of medical guidance and didn’t come with new evidence.
OB-GYN groups still recommend Tylenol as the safest pain and fever reliever during pregnancy. Doctors point out that untreated high fevers can actually be more dangerous for a developing baby, while other common painkillers like ibuprofen can pose risks.
Researchers note that autism and other developmental conditions are likely influenced by many genetic and environmental factors — not just one medication.
The debate isn’t new. Lawsuits have been filed over Tylenol in the past, but a New York judge dismissed a major case in 2023 due to insufficient evidence.
“The Tylenol panic wasn’t backed by new evidence.”
Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has continued to question mainstream science on autism, including long-disproven claims about vaccines — a backdrop that has fueled public mistrust and mixed messaging.
Bottom line for readers: According to the most comprehensive review to date, Tylenol remains safe to use during pregnancy when needed — and many doctors still consider it the best option for pain or fever.
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