'No Link Between Paracetamol Use In Pregnancy And Autism': Study Refutes Trump’s Claims

Last Updated:January 17, 2026, 13:38 IST

Experts confirm paracetamol is safe during pregnancy, refuting Donald Trump's claims linking it to autism. The Lancet review found no credible risk.

Long-term stress has been linked to lower birth weight and slower growth of the baby inside the womb.

Paracetamol is safe for use during pregnancy, say experts behind a major new review, pushing back against claims linking the common painkiller to autism. The research found no credible evidence that prenatal exposure to paracetamol increases the risk of autism or ADHD and developmental issues in children.

They say, pregnant women “should feel reassured" by the findings, which contradict controversial claims from US President Donald Trump last year that paracetamol “is no good" and pregnant women should “fight like hell" not to take it.

His remarks had drawn sharp criticism from medical organisations across the world. Experts say the latest review, published in The Lancet, is comprehensive and should put to rest doubts over the drug’s safety.

However, US health officials continue to maintain that “many experts" have raised concerns about its use during pregnancy.

The US President drew widespread criticism from doctors across the world after he and his administration claimed that paracetamol, or its branded version Tylenol, widely considered the painkiller of choice for pregnant women, could be linked to autism in children if taken during pregnancy.

Those claims led to confusion among women and concern among health experts, and prompted this new research.

Published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health, the review analysed 43 of the most rigorous studies on paracetamol use during pregnancy, covering hundreds of thousands of women, with a focus on comparisons between pregnancies where the drug was used and those where it was not.

The researchers say using these high-quality studies of siblings means they can dismiss other factors such as different genes and family environments, which makes their review “gold-standard".

The research also examined studies with a low risk of bias and those that tracked children for more than five years to assess any possible link.

“When we did this analysis, we found no links, there was no association, there’s no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism," lead study author and consultant obstetrician Professor Asma Khalil, told the BBC.

“The message is clear – paracetamol remains a safe option during pregnancy when taken as guided," she added.

Medical experts who were not involved in the research have welcomed the findings, saying the study will help ease concerns among women.

News world 'No Link Between Paracetamol Use In Pregnancy And Autism': Study Refutes Trump’s Claims

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