U.S. President Donald Trump has urged pregnant women not to take Tylenol, known globally as paracetamol, citing unproven links between the common painkiller and autism. The remarks, made Monday at a White House news conference, quickly drew sharp criticism from doctors and medical organizations.
“Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it,” Trump declared, adding that women should “fight like hell” to avoid the medicine. He noted that there “may be a point” where its use is unavoidable, but suggested mothers should struggle with that choice.
The comments came as the Food and Drug Administration announced it is preparing to add new labeling on paracetamol products, warning of possible risks of autism and ADHD. Medical experts, however, stressed that there is no conclusive scientific evidence supporting such claims.
Trump also cast doubt on vaccines, saying that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot should be given as separate doses rather than as a combined immunization. “This is based on what I feel,” he said.
His remarks drew strong condemnation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, both of which emphasize that paracetamol remains one of the few painkillers considered safe during pregnancy.
Globally, about half of pregnant women use paracetamol for pain relief or to treat fever, which itself can be dangerous for both mother and child. It is sold worldwide under various brand names including Panadol, Panamax, and Dyman.
