In a tense White House press conference on Monday in the wake of the election, the president Donald Trump asserted a link between the popular painkiller Acetaminophen, also known as its brand name Tylenol and the rise in autism diagnosis.
In attendance were Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Trump urged pregnant women to avoid taking acetaminophen saying that communities with less availability of the medication have less autism-related cases.
The administration has announced plans to change FDA warning labels to warn against acetaminophen usage in pregnancy.
It also suggested that states that Medicaid programs include leucovorin as an ingredient Vitamin B that is a possible treatment for autism.
The government officials framed the move as part of a larger plan to determine the root of autism’s reasons, which have been increasingly recognized in recent years.
The announcements, however, have caused some resentment within scientists.The experts point out the clear absence of definitive evidence to support any causal connection between the acetaminophen drug and autism.
“While some studies have observed a slight association, a causal relationship has not been established,” said in the FDA in its latest advisory, stressing that contradictory research is available.
Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue has strongly criticized the administration’s claims, saying, Independent, sound science is clear Acetaminophen’s use does not cause autism.
We are strongly opposed to any other explanation and are very concerned about the confusion it creates for pregnant mothers and their parents.
The Dr. Steven J. Fleischman who is president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists expressed his opinion in terms of “highly unsettling” and emphasized that families in millions may be misled if there is no reliable evidence to support the assertions.
Harvard University and other researchers have conducted research that suggests the exposure of acetaminophen to prenatal babies may be associated with an increased risk of developing autism.
However the expert in epidemiology Ann Bauer of the University of Massachusetts warned against rushing to issue federal guidelines.
“I think they may be jumping the gun,” Bauer explained, highlighting the need for evidence-based decisions before making any changes to the policy.
The administration has also reaffirmed the long-debunked claim that vaccines are possible causes of autism.Merck is a major vaccine maker, has dismissed these claims by citing years of research that showed there is no link between vaccinations and autism.
Advocates groups such as The Arc of the United States have warned that false claims can mislead people and create stigmatization for those with developmental disabilities.
The prevalence of autism across the U.S. have increased over the last two decades, mostly due to the expansion of diagnostic criteria, increased screening and increased awareness among the public.
However, the administration rejectDonald Trump holding a newspaper blaming Tylenol for autism, while medical professionals in lab coats protest with signs saying “Science Disagrees!”ed these theories as an “canard.” Experts continue to suggest caution when taking medication during pregnancy, however they insist that acetaminophen is an option that is safe for treating the symptoms of fever and pain, which should be treated, but if not, could cause serious harm to the mother and the child.
President Trump’s repeated cautions against Acetaminophen have led to a flurry of discussion, leaving parents medical professionals and researchers searching for clarity in contradictory messages.
The debate highlights the difficulties of balancing health advice for the public with the political message and media focus.
