Top U.S. officials from the Trump administration this week warned the use of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, during pregnancy may cause neurological conditions, such as autism and ADHD, in children — however, research studies do not support or verify those claims.
“Extensive research has shown that the cause of autism is very complex, involving genetics, often interacting with environmental factors,” says Sandra Friedman, MD, MPH, professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. “There is no single cause, and no single definitive treatment.”
Acetaminophen is commonly used as a pain reliever and used to treat low-grade fevers. It’s been deemed safe for use in pregnant individuals.
Studies — including one published in JAMA last year — have found no significant associations between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and children’s risk of autism or other intellectual disabilities.
A widely-cited scientific article by Harvard epidemiologists — which only reviewed existing literature and did not conduct original analysis — recently concluded there may be a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders, but review authors say more research is needed to determine a causal relationship.
“While there have been observational studies showing an association between use of acetaminophen and some neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism, there are other influences to consider such as genetic factors or underlying illness,” Friedman says. “Research has not shown a definitive causal relationship between use of acetaminophen and autism. It is important to underscore that autism is not caused by what parents do.”
We spoke with Friedman, who also works as director of JFK Partners, a CU Anschutz program that focuses on providing care to people with developmental disabilities and special health care needs, to learn more about autism diagnosis and whether common over the counter medicines, like Tylenol, have an impact on health and child development.
