Local Pharmacy Says Tylenol is Safe When Taken as Directed

By Torie Price
Opinion Page Edtior
IG: torielprice

During a September White House press conference, President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made claims of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the consumption of acetaminophen, commonly referred to by the brand name Tylenol, being linked.

“Taking Tylenol is not good — I’ll say it; it’s not good,” Trump said.

A portion of Trump’s evidence as to why Tylenol might be a root cause of ASD is that countries with limited access to the medicine have “no autism.”

“(ASD) occurs in every nation, including developing countries,” says Gold Star Rehabilitation on their website, a U.S.-based children’s mental health and speech therapy facility.

Some of the factors as to why certain countries seem to have low rates of autism may be because of a lack of resources, a stigma against this disorder, or simply being unaware of ASD and the warning signs.

Minimal evidence was given as to why acetaminophen is believed to cause adverse mental reactions, and the science does not seem to be on President Trump’s and his administration’s side.

“Acetaminophen is considered safe for most populations when used as directed. When overused, liver damage is the main risk.” Lacey Stone, a pharmacist at The Medicine Shoppe in Hutchinson, Kansas, said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ website says that “decades of research have found that acetaminophen is safe for children when administered as recommended” and that “there is no single root cause of autism—elevating false claims and misleading information can lead parents and caregivers to avoid certain medications that could otherwise help their children out of fear.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also made statements that do not align with President Trump’s claims.

The president of the ACOG, Steven J. Fleischman, said in their official statement that “in more than two decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children.”

Humans need access to healthcare, including medicine that can safely reduce their pain.

“Acetaminophen is one of the few options available to pregnant patients to treat pain and fever, which can be harmful to pregnant people when left untreated,” Fleischman said.

“It is not ethical to ban the usage of acetaminophen for pregnant women,” Stone said.

Claims that Tylenol causes mental health conditions such as autism are not backed by science, as untreated fever in pregnant women may lead to further complications in their pregnancy.

For those who choose to avoid acetaminophen, Stone advises that “non-medication options such as massage, deep breathing, physical therapy, baths, and acupuncture can help with pain relief. Hydration, cool compresses, and lukewarm baths can help lower fevers in some cases.”

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