EU Maintains Paracetamol Safe for Pregnancy Despite US Autism Claims

The European Medicines Agency has reaffirmed that paracetamol remains safe for pregnant women, directly contradicting controversial claims made yesterday by US President Donald Trump linking the common painkiller to autism.

In a press release issued today, the EU's medicines regulator emphasised that paracetamol can continue to be used during pregnancy when clinically needed, stating there is "currently no new evidence" requiring changes to existing recommendations.

The statement comes just one day after the White House announced that the US Food and Drug Administration would issue new warning labels for acetaminophen (known as paracetamol in Europe), claiming the drug poses a "very increased risk of autism" when used during pregnancy.

Steffen Thirstrup, EMA's Chief Medical Officer, provided clear reassurance:

"Paracetamol remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women. Our advice is based on a rigorous assessment of the available scientific data and we have found no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children."

The European position directly contradicts the US President's repeated warnings yesterday, where he told pregnant women: "Don't take Tylenol. Fight like hell not to take it."

Medical professionals across the Atlantic have strongly criticised the announcement. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called the claims "dangerous," whilst numerous doctors highlighted that untreated fever during pregnancy poses genuine risks including miscarriage and birth defects.

The EMA's statement emphasised that extensive data from pregnant women who used paracetamol shows "no risk of malformations in the developing foetus or in newborns." The agency conducted a comprehensive review in 2019 of studies investigating neurodevelopment in children exposed to paracetamol before birth, finding results "inconclusive" with no established link to neurodevelopmental disorders.

This scientific position aligns with the European Network of Teratology Information Services (ENTIS), which issued a detailed statement in 2021 describing evidence linking paracetamol to autism as "weak, inconsistent and to a large extent fundamentally flawed." ENTIS maintains that paracetamol remains the "first-choice analgesic and antipyretic for pregnant women."

The White House announcement, made alongside Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, also promoted leucovorin as an autism treatment, despite limited evidence. The administration claimed communities without access to paracetamol have "no autism," a statement contradicted by global autism prevalence data.

The pharmaceutical industry has also pushed back. Kenvue, which manufactures Tylenol, stated: "We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism."

The EMA maintains its standard advice: when needed, paracetamol should be used "at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible time and as infrequently as possible." The agency stressed that pregnant women should consult healthcare professionals about any medication concerns.

European health authorities will continue monitoring paracetamol safety data and will evaluate new evidence as it emerges, taking regulatory action if necessary to protect public health.

The transatlantic divide on this issue leaves expectant mothers on both sides of the ocean facing conflicting official guidance, highlighting the importance of consulting qualified medical professionals rather than relying on political announcements for health decisions.