Trump Admin Issues Guidance on Acetaminophen & Pregnancy, Claiming Autism Risk

3 DAYS AGO·UPDATED 3 DAYS AGO

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Above: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the White House on Sept. 22, 2025. Image copyright: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

The mounting evidence connecting acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism cannot be ignored any longer. Multiple studies have shown associations between Tylenol and neurodevelopmental disorders, with some research indicating up to an 80% spike in autism risk. Acetaminophen may be most dangerous when taken chronically throughout pregnancy, as young children's developing livers struggle to metabolize the drug effectively. The Trump administration is courageously addressing this crisis by warning families about these dangers and providing new treatment options like leucovorin for affected children.

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Government-critical narrative

The largest and most rigorous study of 2.5 million children found zero increased autism risk from acetaminophen when proper controls were used. The tiny 5% preliminary risk completely disappeared when researchers compared siblings, proving the association was due to other family factors, not the medication itself. Acetaminophen remains the safest pain relief option for pregnant women, and fever left untreated poses real dangers to both mother and baby. This irresponsible fear-mongering puts pregnant women at serious risk by discouraging the use of the only safe pain reliever available during pregnancy.

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