The painkiller paracetamol, or acetaminophen, is one of the most widely used medicines during pregnancy worldwide. But earlier this week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it would slap a warning label on the drug, citing a “possible association” between autism in children and the use of acetaminophen.
This is after US President Donald Trump linked the popular medication (sold under the brand name Tylenol in the US) to autism.
In an anticipated announcement about autism, he bluntly declared, “Don’t take Tylenol,” repeating the warning without citing scientific evidence.
“Fight like hell not to take it,” he added, bringing the debate to the forefront of US health policy.
Major health organisations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union, have reaffirmed the safety of paracetamol during pregnancy, disputing Trump’s claims.
The WHO said that evidence of a link remains inconsistent and urged caution in drawing conclusions.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) stated there is no new evidence requiring changes to current recommendations, adding paracetamol can be used during pregnancy when needed, but at the lowest effective dose and frequency.
“Available evidence has found no link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism,” the EMA said in a statement, adding paracetamol could be used during pregnancy when needed, though at the lowest effective dose and frequency.
Britain’s health regulator also confirmed its safe use.
In the same briefing, Trump not only urged parents and pregnant women to avoid Tylenol but also suggested not to take common vaccines together or so early in a child’s life.
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