Researchers report that hospital emergency room data shows a measurable reduction in acetaminophen use during pregnancy after federal officials cautioned about a possible association with autism.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A new study examining hospital emergency room data found that fewer pregnant women were given Tylenol after federal health officials issued warnings about potential risks associated with the medication during pregnancy.
The findings, highlighted in coverage by The Epoch Times, show that orders for Tylenol—also known as acetaminophen or paracetamol—declined by approximately 10 percent among pregnant women treated in emergency departments during the weeks following the federal advisory.
Researchers reported the results in a paper published March 5 in The Lancet. The study examined emergency room records covering the period from Sept. 22, 2025, through Dec. 7, 2025.
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During that same timeframe, investigators found no statistically significant change in acetaminophen use among female patients in emergency departments who were not pregnant.
The decline followed an announcement by the Trump administration on Sept. 22, 2025, warning that the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy could potentially be associated with autism. Officials cited emerging research, including a 2025 scientific review examining the issue, published in the journal Environmental Health and accessible through Springer Nature.
At the time of the warning, President Donald Trump addressed the issue directly, telling the public, “Don’t take Tylenol.”
Federal regulators offered a more cautious interpretation. In a notice issued at the time, the Food and Drug Administration stated that acetaminophen remained the safest available over-the-counter option for treating fevers during pregnancy. However, the agency also advised medical professionals to consider reducing its routine use.
The notice explained that due to the potential association with autism, “clinicians should consider minimizing the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy for routine low-grade fevers.”
The study examining the emergency room data was authored by Dr. Jeremy Faust, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Michael Barnett, a professor at the Brown University School of Public Health.
“Although causal claims cannot be made, the observed associations are consistent with influence of new FDA recommendations on clinical decisions,” Faust and Barnett wrote in their analysis.
“It is unknown whether the results reported reflect changes in patient demand or clinician decision making; nonetheless, they show the apparent power that public authority figures have to drive sudden changes in health-care practices.”
The research also noted that the study had limitations. The data set focused exclusively on emergency department records and did not capture acetaminophen use outside hospital settings.
Despite this limitation, the authors said the size of the dataset likely reflects broader prescribing patterns across the health-care system.
Faust and Barnett also stated that they had no conflicts of interest related to the research.
Following publication of the study, Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, responded to the findings in a message posted on social media. He said the government’s warning reflected an effort to provide transparent information about potential health risks.
“Delivering a message about a specific neurological risk for babies is another example of our commitment to telling the truth about public health,” Nixon wrote.
The researchers also observed a separate shift involving another medication discussed during the federal announcement. When officials raised concerns about acetaminophen, they also highlighted research suggesting that prescription folinic acid, also known as leucovorin, could help alleviate symptoms in some individuals with autism.
According to the study, new outpatient prescriptions for leucovorin among children between the ages of 5 and 17 increased by 71 percent during the same study period.
Faust later suggested that the surge in prescriptions may have contributed to supply shortages. Some manufacturers have reported running out of available stock while waiting for new shipments to arrive.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has also reported limited availability of the drug. In response to the shortage, the Food and Drug Administration announced in late 2025 that it would allow the temporary importation of leucovorin tablets from Canada and Spain in order to stabilize supply within the United States.
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