You need to know
President Donald Trump and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said autism is caused by prenatal exposure to Tylenol.
At a press conference on Monday, September 22nd, Trump said “it will come into effect soon.” The FDA said that using acetaminophen during pregnancy would notify doctors that it could be associated with a “very increased risk of autism.”
The relationship between acetaminophen and autism has been the subject of many studies, but most have had conclusive results. Acetaminophen is also considered one of the few safe options for treating pain and fever during pregnancy.
Tylenol’s parent company, Kamboo, told people in a statement. “Independent science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We are otherwise strongly opposed to the proposal and are deeply concerned with the health risks this poses to mothers,” a company spokesperson said.
Many experts agree.
“Since 1960, people have been taking Tylenol and there is a very long history of safety here,” Dr. Karam Radwan, director of the Uchicago Medical Neurodevelodevertalmental Clinic, tells people.
Getty
Trump’s claims about Tylenol were driven by a study published in Environmental Health in August, examining data from numerous studies. Researchers argue that there is a “positive association” between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
However, the researchers also said “we cannot establish a causal relationship between a single exposure.”
What that means is, “If you’ve been taking Tylenol for a few weeks, it’s probably just showing that there’s something like inflammation, infection, autoimmune issues where people are taking Tylenol widely during pregnancy.
“That doesn’t mean Tylenol is the cause,” he said. The cause is “maybe because you’re taking Tylenol.”
Radwan has a strong message for moms whose children have autism.
“I want to check all mothers who have children with autism and do not blame Tylenol during their pregnancy.
“That’s what we’re going to keep learning, and people have been taking Tylenol since 1960. It’s not just that they started taking Tylenol,” continues Radwan. “The safety profile of Tylenol is impressive. Few have such a safety profile.”
The authors of this study also acknowledge that certain conditions normally treated with Tylenol may also be dangerous to the fetus. “Untreated pain and fever can also be harmful to the baby,” said Dr. Didddya Prada of Mount Sinai, an assistant professor of population health sciences and policy, environmental medicine and climate science at Ikan School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, in a press release.
“Our research highlights the importance of discussing the safest approaches with healthcare providers and considering non-drug options whenever possible.”
The link between medications taken during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders has been studied for a long time, but most scientists have rejected the notion that only one causes autism. Factors include genetics, pregnancy complications, and environmental exposure.
Kennedy had previously given a September deadline to find the cause of autism – sparked controversy with approaches to neurodevelopmental disorders, conditions associated with brain development, conditions that can cause restricted patterns of behavior, challenges in communication with others, and breakdowns of speech.
Kennedy has announced plans for national registration of people with autism, compiled in private medical records. He also sparked a fierce backlash in April after saying that people with autism “will not pay taxes. They won’t have jobs. They’ll never play baseball.” And he has previously promoted scientifically crashing claims that autism is caused by vaccines.
Amazon
Other studies also have a crash in the link between Tylenol and autism. Additional studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy in siblings and suggested that “using acetaminophen during pregnancy is not associated with the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in sibling control analyses.
And doctors have already warned against long-term use of acetaminophen. “As for the big evidence, I’ll keep saying that Tylenol is very safe, but it reminds people not to take Tylenol unless you really need it. If you have a fever or have a severe headache or pain that you can’t stand,” Radwan said.
You won’t miss the story. Sign up for people’s free daily newsletters and stay up to date with what people have to offer, from celebrity news to stories of fascinating human interests.
In a statement to the people, Kemb further defended their claims:
“Acetaminophen is the safest painkiller option for pregnant women when needed throughout their pregnancy. Without it, women are facing dangerous choices.
They continued, “more than a decade of rigorous research approved by leading health professionals and global health regulators confirms that there is no reliable evidence linking acetaminophen to autism.”
“We stand up to many public health and health professionals who have reviewed and agreed to this science. We will continue to explore all the options to protect the health of American women and children,” the spokesperson concluded.
The US Obstetrician and Gynecologist (ACOG) also expressed support for the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy.
“The proposal that the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy causes autism is not only very concerning to clinicians, but also irresponsible in view of the harmful and confusing messages sent to pregnant patients, including those who need to resort to this beneficial medicine during pregnancy.”
