Trump ties autism risk to Tylenol as scientists urge caution
The US president urged pregnant women not to take the painkiller over an unproven link to autism
US President Donald Trump on Monday urged pregnant women not to take Tylenol over an unproven link to autism and urged major changes to the standard vaccines given to babies.
Medical professionals have long cited acetaminophen – widely known as paracetamol in the UK, Europe and much of the rest of the world – as among the safest painkillers to take during pregnancy, especially as fever and pain can also pose dangers to both the mother and the developing fetus.
“I want to say it like it is, don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it,” Trump said. “Fight like hell not to take it. There may be a point where you have to, and that you’ll have to work out with yourself, so don’t take Tylenol.
“For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary. That’s, for instance, in cases of extremely high fever that you feel you can’t tough it out,” he said.