WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Monday is expected to make an announcement on its research into the growing rates of autism in the US that will include a reference to the role of pain and fever reliever Tylenol.

Tylenol, the widely used over-the-counter medication that is sold generically as acetaminophen in the United States and as paracetamol in the UK, has been studied for potential links to the condition.

What does the research say on acetaminophen use during pregnancy?

There is no firm evidence of a link between the use of the drug and autism. Recent studies have yielded conflicting conclusions on whether its use during pregnancy might create risks for a developing foetus.

A 2024 study of nearly 2.5 million children in Sweden found no causal link between in utero exposure to acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

A 2025 review of 46 earlier studies did suggest a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of these conditions, but the researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Harvard University and others said the study does not prove the drug caused the outcomes. They advised that pregnant women should continue to use acetaminophen as needed, at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest possible period.

Large 2025 studies from Europe and Japan have suggested that what might appear to be small associations between prenatal acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders might actually be due to confounders, that is, other underlying factors - such as environmental conditions, parents’ health and genetics, other medications the mothers may have been taking, and illness.