Just Tylenol and Other Things
Globally, every country reading the take on acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) by the US Administration must be laughing at the Administration and the citizens of the United States. First because Tru_p became President. Second because Tru_p appointed Robert Kennedy, a nonmedical person who has proven time and time again he is not up to the job as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Third? Neither of the two have the knowledge to talk about Tylenol or medicines. Two intellectually challenged people leading the way for US citizens.
Each day going by, we come closer and closer to a disaster of their making.
Trump Links Autism to Tylenol and Vaccines, Claims Not Backed by Science, MedPage
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday linked autism to childhood vaccine use and the taking of popular pain medication Tylenol by women when pregnant, elevating claims not backed by scientific evidence to the forefront of U.S. health policy.
In an extraordinary news conference at the White House, the Republican president delivered medical advice to pregnant women and parents of young children, repeatedly telling them not to use or administer the painkiller and suggesting that common vaccines not be taken together or so early in a child’s life.
The advice from Trump, who acknowledged he is not a doctor, goes against that of medical societies, which cite data from numerous studies showing that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, plays a safe role in the well-being of pregnant women.
“I want to say it like it is, don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it,” Trump said. “Other things that we recommend, or certainly I do anyway, is … don’t let them pump your baby up with the largest pile of stuff you’ve ever seen in your life,” he said, referring to vaccines.
The widely used over-the-counter pain relief medication is also known generically as paracetamol elsewhere.
Trump Administration Backs Leucovorin as Treatment
Trump’s team suggested leucovorin, a form of folinic acid, as a treatment for autism symptoms.
Dozens of medical, research, and autism advocacy groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, decried the president’s announcement.
“The data cited do not support the claim that Tylenol causes autism and leucovorin is a cure, and only stoke fear and falsely suggest hope when there is no simple answer,” the Coalition of Autism Scientists said in a statement.
Standing with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine critic who has argued that no vaccine is safe, Trump called for a reexamination of a link between vaccines and autism, a theory that has been repeatedly debunked.
“We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers and parents,” Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, said in a statement.
Britain’s health regulator said on Monday it is safe to use the pain relief treatment paracetamol and that there is no evidence of it causing autism in children.
Kenvue Shares Recover in Late Day Trading
Shares of consumer health company Kenvue recovered 5% in extended trading after slumping more than 7% in Monday’s trading session and rose in European trading on Tuesday.
Citi analysts said they expected the stock to recover, citing the absence of new scientific evidence from the White House briefing.
The stock remains down about 14% since September 5, when the Wall Street Journal reported that Kennedy planned to link acetaminophen to autism. Kenvue was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023.
Trump said he is a big believer in vaccines, having led in his the pandemic initiative to speed COVID-19 vaccine development first term. Still, he called for the removal of mercury from vaccines and said children should not get the hepatitis B vaccine before the age of 12. It is normally given in the first 24 hours after birth. He also said the measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccine should be split into three separate shots.
The Tylenol-autism link announcement was reminiscent of Trump’s regular press briefings in the early months of the pandemic, when he would frequently dispense advice that was not founded on science, including his suggestion that people ingest bleach, which his supporters later said was not serious.
Studies have shown vaccines are safe, eradicating childhood diseases such as polio and measles in the U.S. Over the last 50 years, it is estimated that essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives, UNICEF USA President & CEO Michael J. Nyenhuis has said.
Only one in four Americans believe recent recommendations for fewer vaccines from the Trump administration were based on scientific evidence and facts, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed this month.
“I cannot say that I’ve ever experienced anything like this in vaccines,” said Dr. Norman Baylor, former director of the FDA’s Office of Vaccines Research and Review.
Trump Administration Announces Steps It will Take
The Trump administration has asked drug companies to be prepared to ramp up production of leucovorin as a treatment for some autism patients, Food and Drug Administration chief Marty Makary told reporters.
The FDA has approved a version of the drug made by GSK that was aimed at treating a condition associated with autism, but which the drugmaker no longer manufactures. Once it is established for the use, the administration said Medicaid insurance for low-income people would cover the drug for autism symptoms.
The FDA, in its approval process, cited a review of the use of leucovorin in 40 patients with a rare metabolic disorder called cerebral folate deficiency that can lead to a range of neurological symptoms, some of which are seen in people with autism.
The FDA said it would seek a label change for over-the-counter Tylenol and its generic versions to reflect evidence suggesting that use during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children. A letter was sent to doctors by the FDA with a similar warning, but said a causal relationship had not been established.
Researcher Say There Is No Casual Link
Researchers say there is no firm evidence of a link between the use of Tylenol and autism. A 2024 study of nearly 2.5 million children in Sweden found no causal link between in utero exposure to acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental disorders.
A 2025 review of 46 earlier studies did suggest a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of these conditions, but the researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Harvard University and others said the study does not prove the drug caused the outcomes.
They advised that pregnant women should continue to use acetaminophen as needed, at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest possible period. Trump officials cited that review and used similar language in advising how much Tylenol to take.
Old and New Studies
“It is clear that the Tylenol-autism link is not a new question – it has been looked at many times and in many different studies,” autism researcher Dr. Diana Schendel of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute said in a statement, noting that she would like to see what new evidence the administration comes up with. “Without showing any evidence to back them up, the announcements become reckless and potentially harmful.”
Researchers say leucovorin, used to treat some cancer patients on chemotherapy, has shown some promise in very small trials, but that large, randomized trials are still needed.
“There’s not good evidence that it works. There are some studies, but they’re small and they’re not the best studies. And so it’s certainly not something I’m actively recommending,” said Dr. Audrey Brumback, an autism expert and researcher at the University of Texas at Austin.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington, Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Additional reporting by Michael Erman in New York, Nandita Bose, and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington, Nancy Lapid in Tucson, Robin Respaut and Noel Randewich in San Francisco, and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Caroline Humer, David Gregorio and Michael Perry)
While it’s easy (and fun) to mock Trump and RFK’s criticism of Tylenol’s link to autism, where studies have been done to refute them, this should not lead us to take a cavalier attitude about the safety of over the counter and pharmaceuticals in general.
Like most Americans my age, I’ve been dealing with high blood pressure. When it didn’t get reduced into the target range, my doctor kept prescribing more and more medicine. Besides being ineffective, the higher dosage led to a bunch of annoying, known side effects which took me months to associate with the medication.
After doing some research the web, I found comments from some people who claimed that my primary medication could actually raise blood pressure in some people. (It’s far from unknown for some medications to have an opposite effect: Benadryl is typically soporific, but it can also lead to hyperactivity.)
With my blood pressure monitor, I decided to do some tests, gradually reducing my medication to zero. Blood pressure at zero dosage was about as high as at the maximum prescribed dosage. Then I tried half the maximum dosage, which has given me generally acceptable results all week. More testing is needed.
Interestingly enough, Tylenol may also raise blood pressure as can other over the counter pain relievers. Acetaminophen might worsen high blood pressure – Harvard Health
“While nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure (HBP), only 29% think over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers may raise blood pressure, according to a recent survey commissioned by the American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all.” Most U.S. adults unaware that over-the-counter pain relievers may increase blood pressure | American Heart Association
Unfortunately, measuring blood pressure is not as straightforward as it seems. Lots of things can interfere, including how quickly the doctor or nurse takes the measurement.
A lot of education and a lot of studies need to be done. Caveat emptor about whatever Big Pharma pushes. It’s not always safe for everyone. RFK certainly deserves criticism, not for skepticism, but for his wrong-headed skepticism.
@John,
Acetaminophen is hepatotoxic. I doubt it would be approved if it was developed today.
There are no drugs without side effects. There are no surgeries without risks. Driving is one of the riskiest things most people do on a daily basis, but nobody blames “big automobile” for traffic accidents.
When he pushes a link between Tylenol and autism, RFK Jr is not being skeptical, he’s lying. A genuine skeptic examines all the evidence, not just the evidence that confirms his hypothesis. Ask questions, but be prepared to listen to answers.
That is been the recommendation of my doctors for just about every as needed medication I take. Judging from the number of pills I have to cut in half I would guess that lowest possible dose applies to just about everything.
It sounds like they are trying to make the normal case something that originated just recently with them.