President Donald Trump has sparked renewed controversy by repeatedly asserting that taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy could increase the risk of autism in fetuses. The international medical community has firmly pushed back, characterizing it as a political debate unsupported by scientific evidence.
Industry sources reported on Tuesday that President Trump recently took to his social media platform, Truth Social, claiming that millions of pregnant women have used Tylenol, while studies suggest possible links to developmental issues in children. He urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action for public safety. During campaign rallies, Trump further alleged that big pharmaceutical companies control the government, arguing that withholding the truth is criminal.
As global consumers grapple with confusion, medical experts worldwide have strongly refuted these claims. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that there is no consistent scientific evidence establishing a causal relationship between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) stressed that paracetamol has been used as a standard antipyretic and analgesic during pregnancy, backed by decades of accumulated safety data.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) cautioned that neglecting pain and fever could actually increase the risk of fetal neurological damage, stating that spreading unfounded fears is detrimental to women’s health. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) noted that studies linking Tylenol to autism failed to eliminate sample bias and confounding factors, asserting that causation cannot be established.
The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) warned against politicizing drug safety issues and called for evidence-based discussions.
Reactions in South Korea mirrored these sentiments. The Korean Medical Association stated that no causal relationship between Tylenol and autism risk has been established, assuring that pregnant women can safely use it under proper medical guidance.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that current domestic and international safety assessments have not recognized any association with autism, adding that they continue to monitor additional data.
Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, remains the most widely used antipyretic and analgesic globally and has been included on the WHO’s essential medicines list for over four decades.