Dr. Mehmet Oz told CBS News on September 25 that the Trump administration is not advising pregnant women to avoid Tylenol in any situation, despite recent controversy. President Donald Trump’s remarks this week suggesting a possible link between the common pain reliever and autism have drawn strong criticism from medical experts.
Oz, a former surgeon and television personality who now heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Department of Health and Human Services, explained that doctors often recommend acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, to pregnant women with high fevers, since untreated fevers can be dangerous. Research, he added, continues to show that acetaminophen remains the safest option for managing fever during pregnancy.
Public debate around the safety of Tylenol use during pregnancy has intensified recently following reports that the Trump administration planned to link the common pain reliever to autism. And that's exactly what happened on September 22. This could have major ramifications, especially since Tylenol has long been considered one of the few safe options for expectant mothers to treat fever and pain.
So, is there any connection between Tylenol and autism? Click on to discover all you need to know.