On Thursday, the maker of Tylenol brought back to light an old social media post indicating that it “doesn’t actually recommend” the product for pregnant women. This resurfaced amid ongoing discussions about whether over-the-counter painkillers are linked to autism.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pointed out a tweet from 2017 where Tylenol stated, “We do not recommend using the product in practice while pregnant.”
This revelation follows President Trump and health officials advising against the use of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, due to possible autism risks. This recommendation came despite the absence of solid evidence connecting the two.
On social media, users quickly dug up old tweets as Kenvue, the Tylenol manufacturer, maintained that it is safe for pregnant women to use after the administration’s assertions.
Kenvue addressed the old tweet on Thursday, clarifying, “This is out of context – I don’t recommend taking medication while pregnant; it’s up to healthcare providers to make that call.”
The company further explained, “The response from this eight-year-old tweet lacked completeness and didn’t cover the full guidance on Tylenol’s safe usage, which remains unchanged.” They reiterated that pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications containing acetaminophen.
Kenvue also noted that the tweets in question were deleted by the original author, making it difficult to view the entire conversation.
Healthcare professionals, including American obstetricians and gynecologists and the Maternal Fetal Medicine Association (SMFM), continue to support the safety of acetaminophen for pregnant women.
SMFM stated this week, “Despite opposing claims, a comprehensive review of studies that suggest a possible link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and increased risks of autism or attention deficit disorder (ADHD) has not established a causal relationship.”
