Former President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by warning pregnant women to avoid Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, suggesting a potential link to autism. In a press conference on the new notice, they dropped the hammer. This is especially important considering that about 60 million Americans take Acetaminophen weekly. The warning aligns with the views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long criticized the drug and has been vocal about rising autism rates.
Kennedy has spent many weekends recently looking into Acetaminophen. In the meantime, he’d had a conversation with Kirk Perry, the CEO of Kenvue, the company that produces Tylenol. Kennedy had first promised to release a list of 31 testable hypotheses for the increasing prevalence of autism. He was originally hoping to point to Acetaminophen as a common culprit. His ties to groups pushing for the proliferation of “natural” pain relief have led many to accuse him of having financial motives behind his position.
Following Trump’s announcement, U.S. physicians have been urged to stop recommending Acetaminophen to pregnant women. Dallas Reed, a physician, is spreading the message to parents that Acetaminophen in pregnancy is safe. This very top recommendation goes against his stated beliefs.
“We need to reassure [parents] that autism is not caused by any medication they used in pregnancy.” – Dallas Reed
Medical professionals emphasize that the conditions treated by Acetaminophen during pregnancy pose greater risks than any theoretical link to autism. Dr. Steven Fleischman noted:
“The conditions that people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks.” – Dr. Steven Fleischman
A large, peer-reviewed population-based study of 2.4 million Swedish children found no association between Acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy and autism. This important research has been completely overshadowed by increasing tensions over the issue.
Kennedy’s history with Acetaminophen causes suspicion about what exactly he is up to here. He’s the guy who has most recently assigned the trademark application for “Make America Healthy Again.” The new owner is a company controlled by Del Bigtree, another well-known anti-vaccine activist. Bigtree has publicly stated:
“It does appear that women who take Tylenol have a higher risk of autism.” – Del Bigtree
Adding fuel to this firestorm of a controversy is the fact that, during this announcement, Dr. Mehmet Oz popped up next to Trump and Kennedy. Oz, a high-profile heart surgeon and TV host, has urged people to consider natural alternatives to everyday drugs. In this episode, he warns about the growing risk of acetaminophen in a segment called “Hidden Acetaminophen Danger.”
“There are natural solutions to most over-the-counter medication.” – Dr. Mehmet Oz
Earthley, a natural supplement provider, has been pretty outspoken against Acetaminophen. They contributed at least $5,000 to Children’s Health Defense (CHD), an anti-vaccine organization co-founded by Kennedy. IndependentAdvice.com Along with Dr. Green Mom, another supplement company, Dr. Green Mom advises magnesium or ginger during pregnancy as alternatives to paracetamol.
One parent expressed her worries by asking:
“Is this why my child has autism?” – Parent
The battle continues. At this point, it’s hard to know how Trump’s words will influence the public perception and use of medications during pregnancy. This controversy will further polarize American attitudes toward vaccine safety. At the same time, it may increase fear and stigma around the use of pharmaceutical products during pregnancy.
Sebastian Gorka, a deputy assistant to Trump, added fuel to the fire with his endorsement of Relief Factor, an all-natural pain relief supplement he claims to use daily:
“I love dogs, I hate pain. I have been taking Relief Factor every day for years and it’s 100% drug free.” – Sebastian Gorka
Health, politics, and personal belief collide in complex and sometimes dangerous ways. This makes it really tough for medical professionals and prospective parents when they’re all left to figure out how to get around contradictory information.
