In a bizarre medical claim, US President Donald Trump on Monday linked the use of the pain reliever Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy to autism, a statement widely disputed by health professionals.
“Taking Tylenol is not good. I'll say it. Not good,” Trump said during a White House press briefing. “For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary.”
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Trump also said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would start notifying doctors that acetaminophen “can be associated” with autism risk. “Ideally, you don’t take it at all,” he added, warning parents not to give Tylenol “every time” a child gets a vaccine.
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Linking his remarks to broader concerns about vaccines, the president said: “I would say, wait until the baby is 12 years old and formed,” when referring to childhood immunizations. He also claimed that “The Amish essentially have no autism.”
Trump also mentioned leucovorin, a form of folic acid, as a possible treatment for autism symptoms. However, medical groups maintain that acetaminophen is safe for pregnant women when used properly.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says it can be taken for pain or fever if used as prescribed. So far, the FDA hasn’t provided any scientific proof to back Trump’s claims or issued new advice for doctors.