A major review of 43 studies published in The Lancet found no evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability. Lead author Dr. Asma Khalil said the team "found no clinically important increase" in these conditions. The review also affirms that acetaminophen remains the recommended first-line option for treating fever or pain in pregnancy. Former President Donald Trump repeatedly warned against Tylenol at a White House briefing and on social media, but the White House has not revised its public guidance following the review.
Lancet Review Finds No Link Between Prenatal Acetaminophen and Autism — Despite Trump's Warnings
In the run-up to a White House press conference on autism, former President Donald Trump repeatedly warned the public against using acetaminophen (Tylenol), even telling attendees "Don't take Tylenol" 11 times during the briefing. He later amplified that message on his social platform, urging pregnant women and parents to avoid the medication except when "absolutely necessary."
However, a comprehensive scientific review published in The Lancet finds no evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
What the Review Found
Researchers analyzed 43 studies on acetaminophen exposure in pregnancy. Lead author Dr. Asma Khalil, a professor of obstetrics and maternal–fetal medicine at St. George's Hospital, University of London, said the team "found no clinically important increase in the risk of autism, A.D.H.D. or intellectual disability." The paper was published in The Lancet and presented at a news briefing.
Dr. Khalil emphasized that acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — remains the first-line treatment recommended for pregnant women who have fever or pain, when treatment is needed.
Reaction And Context
"That was the most dangerously irresponsible press conference in the realm of public health in American history," said pediatrician and vaccine researcher Paul Offit of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia after the White House briefing.
Despite the Lancet review and other recent studies that reach similar conclusions, the White House has not changed its public statements about acetaminophen use. For readers following the science, the new review provides reassurance that current evidence does not support a causal link between prenatal acetaminophen and autism or other major neurodevelopmental disorders.
Bottom line: Current high-quality evidence, summarized in a major review, does not show a clinically meaningful increase in the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability associated with acetaminophen use during pregnancy. Pregnant people with fever or pain should discuss treatment options with their healthcare provider, and available guidance still supports acetaminophen as a first-line choice when medication is needed.
This article updates earlier related coverage. The original report first appeared on MS NOW and was summarized in The New York Times.
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