A comprehensive review of studies done across the world, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health, on January 16, has demolished the argument that paracetamol exposure among pregnant women is linked with autism among infants. In fact, it cautions that avoiding appropriate paracetamol use during pregnancy could expose the women and babies to actual harm.
It may be remembered that in September 2025, President Donald Trump’s administration, in fact the U.S. President himself advised pregnant women to limit the use of paracetamol during pregnancy, saying it was linked to autism in infants. Referring to the drug’s brand name in America, Mr. Trump said, “Don’t take Tylenol … Tylenol is not good”. The government cited a review linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to neurodevelopmental outcomes.
The Lancet’s systematic review and meta-analysis, ‘Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment’, published in the peer-reviewed journal by Francesco D’Antonio et al, has established beyond doubt that there is absolutely no evidence available to show a direct link between prenatal use of paracetamol and autism in the babies born.
The authors clarified that, “Paracetamol, or acetaminophen, is the most commonly used analgesic and antipyretic during pregnancy, recommended globally as a first-line option for pain relief and fever reduction. Its safety profile is generally more favourable than that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids, making it the preferred choice in obstetric care.”
The article reviewed 43 existing clinical studies concluded that, “Current evidence does not indicate a clinically important increase in the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, or intellectual disability in children of pregnant individuals who use paracetamol as directed, supporting existing recommendations on its safety.” Further, it said that this absence of association persisted even when considering all studies with more than 5 years of follow-up.
They wrote, “Our results have clear clinical relevance. Paracetamol remains one of the most widely used medicines in pregnancy, commonly taken for pain or fever, and is included on the WHO List of Essential Medicines. In many settings, it is the only safe and accessible option for treating fever and pain. Avoidance of paracetamol based on inconclusive evidence could expose pregnant women and their babies to known risks associated with untreated fever or severe pain. Untreated maternal fever, in particular, has been linked to miscarriage, congenital anomalies, preterm birth, and differences in neurodevelopment. For this reason, discouraging the appropriate use of paracetamol has the potential to cause greater harm than the drug itself.”
The review thus reinforced the guidance of major professional and regulatory bodies, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the European Medicines Agency, which continue to recommend paracetamol as the first-line analgesic and antipyretic in pregnancy.
Avoiding paracetamol based on inconclusive or biased evidence might increase the risk of maternal fever or untreated pain, both of which can harm pregnancy outcomes, it underlined.
