Utilizing acetaminophen as directed throughout being pregnant doesn’t enhance a toddler’s danger of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD) or mental incapacity, a serious new assessment revealed Friday finds.
Acetaminophen, often known as paracetamol and by the model identify Tylenol, is likely one of the mostly used medicines in being pregnant, with medical doctors usually recommending it as the primary choice for ache or fever, however in restricted use.
Earlier research have produced combined outcomes, with some suggesting the drug could also be related to a elevate within the danger of autism or ADHD in kids, leaving some pregnant individuals not sure of how protected it’s.
Within the new meta-analysis, revealed within the journal The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology & Ladies’s Well being, researchers reviewed outcomes from about 60 research.
They discovered no hyperlink to developmental issues in kids when expectant individuals used acetaminophen in accordance with the label, in one of the complete evaluations of the proof so far.
Generic acetaminophen on a countertop.
Steve Heap/Adobe Inventory
“The clearest takeaway is that the best-quality proof doesn’t help a causal hyperlink between taking paracetamol throughout being pregnant and autism or ADHD in kids,” Dr. Asma Khalil, examine co-author and professor of obstetrics and maternal fetal drugs at St. George’s Hospital in London, advised ABC Information.
“Pregnant ladies ought to really feel reassured that paracetamol stays the beneficial first-line choice for ache or fever in being pregnant when used as directed,” she added.
In September, President Donald Trump warned that acetaminophen use in being pregnant was “related to a really elevated danger of autism” and the president suggested pregnant ladies, “Do not take Tylenol.”
The president has since repeated that declare on social media and has steered that younger kids, together with infants, should not be given the drug, with out offering proof to again up the assertion.
The Meals and Drug Administration additionally launched a word on the time to medical doctors a few doable hyperlink between acetaminophen throughout being pregnant and autism. The word included language that there was no proof that Tylenol causes autism, and the affiliation is an ongoing space of scientific debate.
In a press release to ABC Information, HHS mentioned, “many consultants have expressed concern of the usage of acetaminophen throughout being pregnant.”
Main medical teams reacted strongly, expressing concern that pregnant ladies could also be discouraged from utilizing acetaminophen even when they may profit.
Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, mentioned on the time saying it believes that analysis exhibits that acetaminophen doesn’t trigger autism.
In a brand new assertion to ABC Information, Kenvue mentioned it could assessment the brand new evaluation upon publication.
“Our view of the prevailing science stays the identical: we consider unbiased, sound science exhibits Tylenol is protected and taking acetaminophen doesn’t trigger autism,” the assertion learn.
President Donald Trump listens as Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. solutions questions after delivering an announcement on medical and scientific findings on autism causation in kids on the White Home, September 22, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs
The brand new assessment centered on sibling-comparison research, which have a look at siblings born to the identical mom when one being pregnant concerned taking acetaminophen and one other didn’t. As a result of siblings share genetics and household setting, this design helps separate the results of the drug from household background.
In sibling-comparison analyses, publicity to acetaminophen throughout being pregnant was not related to autism spectrum dysfunction, ADHD or another mental incapacity. This conclusion held up even in research with greater than 5 years of follow-up, the authors mentioned.
The authors mentioned the assessment might assist clarify why earlier observational research appeared to point out a doable hyperlink between acetaminophen use in being pregnant and developmental issues.
Folks don’t take acetaminophen randomly however for signs resembling fever, an infection, irritation or ache, the authors mentioned. These signs may additionally be linked to the mind improvement of a fetus, making it doable to confuse the results of the underlying situation with results of the treatment.
Jessica B. Steier, who leads the science communication group Unbiased Science and was not concerned within the assessment, advised ABC Information that not treating signs, resembling fever, may very well be dangerous to each the pregnant individual and the fetus.
“Untreated fever has documented associations with critical being pregnant and fetal dangers,” she defined. “The choice ache medicines — NSAIDs, opioids — carry their very own being pregnant dangers. Acetaminophen stays the most secure choice when treatment is required.”
Steier added that research linking acetaminophen use in being pregnant to autism or different situations are weak to misinterpretation and could be persuasive, particularly when shared on social media.
An HHS official advised ABC Information that the brand new evaluation “doesn’t resolve an necessary public well being query; it sidesteps it. By excluding the overwhelming majority of related proof, privileging one examine design identified to bias outcomes towards the null, and misrepresenting statistical energy, the authors engineer a discovering fairly than consider causality.”
Khalil mentioned sufferers ought to use the bottom efficient dose for the shortest period of time and to hunt medical recommendation if signs persist, are extreme or recur — particularly fever.
The authors mentioned there are limitations to the assessment, together with that few research utilizing sibling-based designs, which prevented the workforce from accounting for different variables that would affect the usage of painkillers or result in neurodevelopmental issues.
Nevertheless, they add the findings of the brand new assessment align with the steerage of a number of skilled medical organizations, together with the American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Bottles of generic acetaminophen are seen in a pharmacy in Houston, September 23, 2025.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP through Getty Photographs
ACOG advises utilizing acetaminophen when wanted, following the label directions, searching for medical steerage when acceptable and listening to the signs that immediate the drug’s use.
A recurring or excessive fever, extreme ache or signs that are not enhancing throughout being pregnant can sign an underlying downside that wants medical consideration, in accordance with ACOG.
“It is at all times wise to make use of paracetamol appropriately in being pregnant: the bottom efficient dose for the shortest time, and keep away from pointless extended use with out medical assessment,” Khalil mentioned.
Radhika Malhotra, MD is an inner medicine-preventive drugs resident at Rutgers New Jersey Medical College and a member of the ABC Information Medical Unit.
ABC Information’ Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.
