Is your paracetamol safe? What every pregnant woman needs to know after Trump's autism warning
What you need to know:
- The controversy over this correlation sparked interest online after President Donald Trump recently linked paracetamol or acetaminophen—marketed as Tylenol in the US—to autism.
- He asked the United States Food and Drug Administration to share labelling advisories that would make women take caution during pregnancy.
Doctors and scientists warn that the association of a common painkiller with autism should be taken with a pinch of salt, saying there is no conclusive scientific backing to prove this.
Their warning has been backed by a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), which also addressed another common misconception: childhood vaccines do not cause autism.
The controversy over this correlation sparked interest online after President Donald Trump recently linked paracetamol or acetaminophen—marketed as Tylenol in the US—to autism. He asked the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to share labelling advisories that would make women take caution during pregnancy.
Women on social media have been reacting to President Trump's statement with fear, worry, and some mockery.
In response, the FDA started the process of label changes in what they said was to "reflect evidence."
"Even with this body of evidence, the choice still belongs with parents. The precautionary principle may lead many to avoid using acetaminophen during pregnancy, especially since most low-grade fevers don't require treatment. It remains reasonable, however, for pregnant women to use acetaminophen in certain scenarios," said Dr Marty Makary, FDA commissioner.
Later in their statement, FDA said it was essential for parents to note that a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature.
Globally, WHO data shows there are about 62 million people (or one in 127) who have autism spectrum disorder.
What really is autism?
Dipa Kamdar, a senior lecturer in Pharmacy at Kingston University, United Kingdom, told Nation that autism is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts with others, and experiences the world.
"People with autism may think, learn, and behave differently from what is considered typical—it just means their brains work in a different way, rather than being a disease. It is a spectrum as every autistic person is unique and they may have a different range of symptoms or traits. Some may live independently with little support, while others might need regular help from a parent, caregiver, or support worker to manage daily life," she explained.
She said that while some studies have found a possible link between frequent use of paracetamol during pregnancy and conditions like autism, this does not mean paracetamol causes these conditions.
"Stronger research with a much larger number of children in the study shows that when family and genetic influences are considered, the link becomes much weaker or disappears," she said.
"Such statements may cause unnecessary fear, leading pregnant women to avoid treating pain or fever, which itself can pose risks to both mother and baby, including birth defects. His (Trump’s) sentiments also risk stigmatising autism and blaming mothers, which can deepen emotional distress and reinforce outdated narratives," she added.
Prof Moses Obimbo, a clinician-scientist and chairman of the Department of Human Anatomy and Medical Physiology at the University of Nairobi, who is also a practising obstetrician and gynaecologist, told Nation that even though there are some observational studies showing increased risk, there is no strong evidence just yet.
"We advise pregnant women to use some of these medications only when necessary. It should be used judiciously. Paracetamol and the class of the same are generally considered to be safe when they are not abused," he said.
"I think it was an overstatement. The correlations that have been shown before have not been validated in large cohorts of studies," he added.
Prof Obimbo advised scientists to design more studies to show a cause-effect correlation, rather than just observational studies.
He said such statements plant fear and anxiety in people who really need to take drugs.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said in a statement that suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients.
"Acetaminophen is one of the few options available to pregnant patients to treat pain and fever, which can be harmful to pregnant people when left untreated. Maternal fever, headaches as an early sign of preeclampsia, and pain are all managed with the therapeutic use of acetaminophen, making acetaminophen essential to the people who need it," read part of the statement.
Prof Richard Mogeni, an obstetrician and gynaecologist from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, told Nation that paracetamol is still safe for use during pregnancy and that has not changed yet.
"Autism is one condition for which we have not managed to determine its real cause. There are multivariate factors: from genetics to environmental causes, among others. Trump should be worried more about environmental pollution as a cause for autism compared to paracetamol," he said.
Dr Lucas Nyabero, a pharmacist and chief executive officer at Elara Health Innovations Limited, also said paracetamol remains the only safe painkiller given to pregnant mothers.
"It is so unfortunate that this is what we have come down to. There is no redeeming value in this," he said.
WHO recommends that all women continue to follow advice from their doctors or health workers, who can help assess individual circumstances and recommend necessary medicines.
"Any medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, especially in the first three months, and in line with advice from health professionals," said WHO in a statement.
