The Trump administration is set to reveal new insights on Monday into autism rates in the U.S., highlighting the potential involvement of Tylenol, a common pain and fever reliever.
Tylenol, known as acetaminophen in the U.S. and paracetamol in the UK, has been scrutinized for its possible connection to autism.
WHAT DOES RESEARCH SAY ABOUT ACETAMINOPHEN USE DURING PREGNANCY?
There is no definitive proof linking the drug to autism. Studies have shown mixed results on whether using it during pregnancy poses risks to a developing fetus.
A 2024 Swedish study involving nearly 2.5 million children found no causal link between acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism or ADHD.
A 2025 review of 46 prior studies indicated a potential link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and higher risks of these conditions. However, researchers from institutions such as the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Harvard University concluded that this does not prove causation. They recommend pregnant women use acetaminophen only when necessary, at the lowest dose and for the shortest time possible.
Large 2025 studies in Europe and Japan suggest that small associations between prenatal acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders could be due to confounding factors, like environmental conditions, parental health and genetics, other medications taken by the mother, and illnesses.
WHAT ARE THE MEDICAL GUIDELINES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN?
Acetaminophen/paracetamol is recommended as the first-line medication for pain and fever during pregnancy by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Britain’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and other health organizations.
Both organizations warn that using ibuprofen, naproxen, and other NSAIDs in the third trimester can result in birth defects.
Pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking any medications, advises ACOG.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF NOT REDUCING FEVER DURING PREGNANCY?
Untreated maternal fever and pain can lead to birth defects such as heart conditions, abdominal wall defects, and neural tube defects, where the brain and spinal cord do not form correctly. It is also linked to preterm birth, low birth weight, and miscarriage.
In pregnant women, untreated fever and pain can cause issues like high blood pressure, dehydration, depression, anxiety, and other health problems.
WHY IS THIS SUBJECT UNDER SCRUTINY NOW?
Claims of a possible link have led to lawsuits by parents and activists against retailers in the U.S., alleging they failed to warn consumers that Kenvue’s Tylenol and its generic versions might cause ADHD or autism.
In December 2023, a U.S. federal judge dismissed hundreds of these lawsuits, barring expert witnesses from testifying due to insufficient scientific evidence.
By August 2024, citing the judge’s decision, all federal cases were dismissed. An appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments next month regarding this ruling, according to court records.
