Washington: The Donald Trump administration is expected to announce on Monday a dramatic shift in public health guidance concerning Tylenol—known globally as paracetamol (PCM). According to reports, federal agencies will caution against its use during early pregnancy, citing studies that suggest a potential link to autism spectrum disorder in children.
The announcement, if confirmed, would mark a significant departure from longstanding medical consensus that acetaminophen—the salt used in paracetamol—is safe for pregnant women.
Potential link between Tylenol and autism
People familiar with the plan revealed that health agencies are likely to advise pregnant women to limit or avoid paracetamol, particularly in the first trimester. The move comes amid ongoing debate within Washington, led in part by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has made autism a key focus of the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
While paracetamol remains one of the most commonly used over-the-counter drugs worldwide, the new guidance is expected to highlight growing scientific debate around its safety.
A “miracle drug” for autism?
Adding to the anticipation, President Trump hinted at a separate medical breakthrough during a speech at the memorial service for MAGA activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday. “Tomorrow we’re going to have one of the biggest announcement(s) medically, I think, in the history of our country. I think you’re going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism,” he told the gathering.
Reports suggest that along with the Tylenol warning, the administration may also unveil details of what Trump described as a “miracle drug” to treat autism. No further details have yet been released.
Pushback from medical community
Medical experts are urging caution over the administration’s claims. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) has repeatedly maintained that there is no conclusive evidence linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to autism or developmental disorders.
A large-scale Swedish study involving over two million children, published last year, found no significant correlation between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism.
Meanwhile, Tylenol’s manufacturer Kenvue Inc. has strongly rejected suggestions of risk. In a statement, the company said: “Independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism.”
Political and public implications
The debate underscores a broader shift in the Trump administration’s health policies, where political figures have increasingly shaped medical narratives. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long been associated with controversial positions on vaccines and autism, has played a central role in driving the new cautionary stance.
Public health experts warn that sudden changes in messaging could lead to confusion among pregnant women, many of whom rely on paracetamol as one of the few approved pain relievers during pregnancy.
Conclusion
With the Trump administration poised to make its official announcement, the world’s medical community is bracing for a heated debate. If the government does caution against Tylenol use during pregnancy, it will challenge decades of accepted medical practice and raise urgent questions about risk, evidence, and public trust in health advisories.
Until further data emerges, doctors are likely to continue recommending that expectant mothers consult their physicians before making any changes to medication.