In a recent discussion on CBS News, Dr. Mehmet Oz clarified that the Trump administration is not advising pregnant women to completely avoid taking Tylenol (acetaminophen). This statement comes in the wake of President Trump’s controversial claims linking the widely used painkiller to autism risk.
Dr. Oz, who presently heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and has a background as a surgeon, emphasized that obstetricians typically recommend acetaminophen for treating high fevers during pregnancy, given that fever can pose significant risks. He highlighted that research indicates acetaminophen is considered the safest option for managing fever symptoms in pregnant women. He stated, “The concern here is that I believe most women get low-grade fevers, they stub their toe, they have little aches and pains, and they think it’s perfectly safe to throw a couple paracetamol or acetaminophen or Tylenol when they’re pregnant, and I don’t think that’s the case.”
On the other hand, a letter released by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary this week expressed that the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy “may be associated with” an increased risk of conditions like autism. However, it also made clear that no causal relationship has been firmly established. Makary stated, “Acetaminophen is the safest over-the-counter alternative in pregnancy among all analgesics and antipyretics.”
Physicians are concerned that patients might turn to alternative pain relievers that are known to be unsafe during pregnancy as a result of the FDA’s announcement. Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, echoed this sentiment, urging that “you should not, under any circumstances, avoid taking acetaminophen if you have a fever early in pregnancy… The overwhelming evidence that we have seen over the last 20 years does not show causation for acetaminophen causing autism.”
Kenvue, the company behind Tylenol, reacted to the FDA’s announcement by stating that independent scientific assessments demonstrate that acetaminophen does not lead to autism, reinforcing its status as the preferred pain reliever for pregnant individuals when necessary.
Additionally, Dr. Oz spoke about the FDA’s endorsement of leucovorin, derived from folic acid, as a treatment for autism in children. While some experts support its potential benefits, it is not seen as a universal solution. Dr. Oz noted the importance of transparency in the ongoing research surrounding these subjects. “If you, as a researcher on those trials, had a child, would you give that child leucovorin?” he posed, to which researchers confirmed they would consider it.
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates a significant rise in autism prevalence among children over the past quarter-century, yet the exact reasons remain uncertain.
During the examination of these topics at the White House, Dr. Oz, along with Makary and Jay Bhattacharya from the National Institutes of Health, identified two areas of interest: the potential role of leucovorin in autism treatment and the caution warranted regarding acetaminophen use in pregnancy. “These are things that we believe, that if you’re fully transparent about, you’ll rebuild trust with the American people,” Dr. Oz explained.
Dr. Oz advocated for proactive FDA action on both leucovorin and acetaminophen recommendations, stating the necessity of transparency even amid the lack of consensus in the medical community. However, he urged that patients should always consult their healthcare providers before making decisions about medication. He remarked, “The Tylenol issue is whether or not we should warn moms… about a problem that we may not know fully the answer to — ‘Is Tylenol a problem during pregnancy?’… the best prudent answer, of course, is take it if a doctor says you need it.”
In summary, while acetaminophen remains a commonly recommended medication for specific conditions in pregnancy, it is essential for women to engage in discussions with their healthcare providers to assess their individual needs and risks.
