The European Medicines Agency on 23 September 2025 dismissed the claim of Donald Trump linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to autism. The agency reaffirmed existing safety guidance and stressed that scientific evidence supports this alleged connection.
Note that Trump asserted during remarks that Tylenol, widely used in the United States and also known as paracetamol, was harmful for pregnant women. He further declared his administration had discovered the answer to autism and urged women to avoid the medicine.
The announcement followed an April 2025 commitment by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to identify the cause of Autism by September 2025. The White House subsequently declared it had found a link between prenatal paracetamol use and autism.
In response, the EMA emphasized its 2019 review showed unsound claims regarding paracetamol and neurodevelopmental disorders. Regulators concluded that available data do not confirm any causal link between prenatal paracetamol use and autism in children.
The EMA further stated human data indicate no increased risk of congenital malformations after maternal paracetamol use. This safety information is already detailed in European Union product labeling and patient leaflets for all approved paracetamol-containing drugs.
It reaffirmed that paracetamol is permissible in pregnancy, when necessary, but advised cautious administration. Recommendations include the lowest effective dose, the shortest treatment period, and infrequent use, with monitoring of safety data across the European Union.
Scientific consensus upholds autism stems from complex genetic and environmental factors, rather than a single identifiable cause. Risk factors under investigation include advanced parental age, air pollution exposure, and reduced oxygen levels at birth, not paracetamol.
Health authorities reiterated the importance of referencing peer-reviewed data and continued vigilance. Adding to this is the need to dismiss unsupported claims while ensuring European citizens receive accurate guidance on safe medication during pregnancy.