Washington (EFE).— United States President Donald Trump announced new restrictions on the use of Tylenol for pregnant women and newborns on Monday, claiming without scientific evidence that the widely used pain reliever is directly linked to autism, a move that has sparked sharp criticism from medical organizations.
During a press conference, Trump repeated more than ten times: “Do not take Tylenol, do not give it to children.”
He said his administration considers the medication a factor behind rising autism rates in the United States, where one in 31 children is currently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to federal data published in March.
Calling autism “a terrible crisis,” Trump ordered that Tylenol carry warning labels in stores and said it should only be used for “extreme fevers” under medical supervision.
He suggested that countries without access to Tylenol report lower autism rates, referencing Cuba as an example.“There’s a rumor, I don’t know if it’s true or not, that in Cuba they don’t have Tylenol because they don’t have the money for it, and virtually they don’t have autism,” Trump said.
Medical community pushes back
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists immediately issued a statement saying acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol, is safe during pregnancy.
“The conditions we treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risk and can cause serious health problems,” wrote Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, the group’s president.
Epidemiologist Eric Ding, from the New England Department of Public Health, also criticized Trump’s claims, writing on X: “Trump and Kennedy are wrong.”
He cited a large Swedish study of 2.4 million children, led by Drexel University and the Karolinska Institute, which found no increased risk of autism when controlling for family-related factors.
However, a separate study by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai suggested prenatal exposure to acetaminophen could raise the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD, keeping the debate alive within the scientific community.
Tylenol manufacturer rejects claims
Kenvue, the pharmaceutical company that produces Tylenol, rejected Trump’s assertions.
“We strongly disagree with any suggestion that contradicts independent science,” company spokesperson Melissa Witt told The New York Times. “We are deeply concerned about the risk this poses to the health of expectant mothers.”
Tylenol, first launched in 1955 as a safer alternative to aspirin, is one of the most widely used over-the-counter medications in the US, with annual sales of around 1 billion dollars.
The brand is owned by Kenvue, a spin-off of Johnson & Johnson. EFE
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