Just when you thought things couldn't get dumber...
President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference to announce a change in FDA labeling requirements based primarily upon a Harvard & Mount Sinai review (published August, 2025) of 46 studies showing "evidence consistent with an association betwen acetaminophen [Tylenol or paracetamol] exposure during pregnancy and increased incidences of NDDs." NDD stands for "neurodevelopmental disorders", and includes things like autism and ADHD.
Immediately, social media exploded with stories of pregnant mothers displaying political opposition by taking unnecessary doses of these medications.
Let's take a breath.
Whether or not Tylenol increases the likelihood of autism or ADHD will be borne out (or refuted) in further research. We look forward to finding out the answer down the road with everyone else.
In the meantime, let's review what we already know about acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen is partially processed through the liver. This produces a highly toxic byproduct called NAPQI (N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine). Under normal circumstance, that is effectively neutralized by glutathione. Once neutralized, this byproduct is safely passed from the body.
In other words, under normal circumstances, acetaminophen is a safe medication when taken as directed.
All of that hinges on the availability of glutathione in the body. When the body doesn't have enough glutathione, that toxic byproduct can quickly build up and cause sever liver damage. Hepatotoxicity is the medical name for the condition, and it is the leading cause of liver failure in the US.
Generally, this occurs when someone takes more than the recommended dose on the label, but that's not the only time. Neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's, rare genetic disorders, and chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer and chronic kidney disease can all lead to continuous oxidative stress which reduces glutathione levels in the body. For those folks, a smaller, typically "safe" dose of acetaminophen may be enough to cause liver damage or failure.
Pregnancy is another period of substantial oxidative stress. Glutathione is critical for fetal development. The mother's body provides whatever baby might need for things like cell differentiation and proliferation and the formation of organs. Lower-than-necessary glutathione levels in mom have been linked to birth defects and miscarriages.
In other words, like virtually all medications, acetaminophen is riskier during pregnancy.
That isn't to say that it is the cause of autism. Nor does that mean there are never situations in which a pregnant mom should take acetaminophen. It means there are greater risks to mom and baby when pregnant.
Perhaps the easiest way to bring this internet foolishness to a close is with the words of a major acetaminophen manufacturer, Tylenol:
"We actually don't recommend using any of our products while pregnant."
Pregnant mothers are regularly told to avoid everything from soft-serve ice cream, soft cheeses, sprouts, sushi and coffee. If common foods can be dangerous during pregnancy, it should go without saying that taking unnecessary, unprescribed medications to prove a point is a terrible idea.
For your sake and the sake of the baby you carry, please don't take any medicine without your doctor's approval.
Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-responds-evidence-possible-association-between-autism-and-acetaminophen-use-during-pregnancy
https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-025-01208-0
https://www.dailywire.com/news/pregnant-liberals-are-downing-tylenol-on-video-to-spite-trump
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1122632/full
