Tylenol Use Dropped After Trump Autism Claim

Study finds thousands of pregnant women avoided Tylenol due to unsubstantiated presidential warning.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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A study published in the Lancet medical journal found that Tylenol use among pregnant women fell by 16% in the three months after President Trump claimed the over-the-counter pain medication was linked to autism. The decrease was likely due to women avoiding Tylenol after the president's unsubstantiated warning, even though health officials said Tylenol remains the safest option for pain and fever relief during pregnancy.

Why it matters

The study highlights the potential public health impact of misinformation from high-profile figures, even when it contradicts established medical guidance. It also raises concerns about eroding public trust in health authorities and science during a time of increased scrutiny of government messaging.

The details

The analysis of emergency room prescribing patterns found that Tylenol orders for pregnant women aged 15-44 dipped 16% at the start of the three-month study period, with the biggest weekly decline of 20% happening in the third week. This meant thousands of women did not have their pain or fever treated, according to the study's lead author, Dr. Jeremy Faust. Meanwhile, prescriptions for leucovorin, a form of folinic acid that Trump touted as an autism treatment, rose sharply during the same time period.

  • The study period covered the three months before and after Trump's announcement on September 22.
  • Tylenol prescriptions fell 10% overall in the three-month period after Trump's statement.
  • The biggest weekly decline of 20% in Tylenol prescriptions for pregnant women happened in the third week after Trump's announcement.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who claimed Tylenol was linked to autism, despite lack of scientific evidence.

Dr. Jeremy Faust

The lead author of the study published in The Lancet, and an emergency physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Kenvue

The company that owns the Tylenol brand, the generic name for which is acetaminophen or paracetamol.

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What they’re saying

“This means that thousands of women did not have their pain or fever treated in ERs, likely because they were needlessly afraid.”

— Dr. Jeremy Faust, Study author and emergency physician (Lancet)

“In a time in which public trust in health, medicine, and science is under attack, it's regrettable that so many families will have been misled into thinking that this medication could somehow miraculously change the lives of children with autism.”

— Dr. Jeremy Faust, Study author and emergency physician (Lancet)

What’s next

Health officials have reiterated that Tylenol remains the safest option for pain and fever relief during pregnancy, and are working to counter the misinformation spread by the former president's unsubstantiated claims.

The takeaway

This study underscores the potential public health risks of misinformation from high-profile figures, even when it contradicts established medical guidance. It highlights the need for trusted health authorities to proactively address such claims and maintain public confidence in science and medicine.