Featured Image Credit: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Health, US News, Pregnancy, News
Lucy Devine
Topics: Donald Trump, Health, US News, Pregnancy, News
US President Donald Trump has issued advice to women after instructing them not to take Tylenol during pregnancy in a move which has angered experts across the globe.
Tylenol is a pain relief medication containing the active ingredient acetaminophen, which is better known as paracetamol in the UK.
Paracetamol has always been deemed safe in pregnancy. In fact, the NHS says that 'paracetamol is the first choice of painkiller if you're pregnant. It's commonly taken during pregnancy and does not harm your baby'.
However, comments made by Trump earlier this week do not align with guidance, with the president explaining: "The FDA will be notifying physicians that the use of acetaminophen, which is commonly known as Tylenol, during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.
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"So taking Tylenol is not good. For this reason, they are strongly recommending women limit Tylenol use in pregnancy, unless medically necessary, that's for instance in cases of extremely high fever."
Trump did have one piece of advice, urging that women try to 'tough it out' before considering taking the drug.
He added: "If you can't tough it out, if you can't do it, you'll take a Tylenol, but it will be very sparingly."
Following the announcement, the FDA shared an open letter encouraging doctors to 'consider minimizing the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy for routine low-grade fevers'.
"To be clear, while an association between acetaminophen and autism has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature," the letter adds.
Meanwhile, a statement by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added: “The Trump Administration does not believe popping more pills is always the answer for better health.
"There is mounting evidence finding a connection between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism — and that’s why the Administration is courageously issuing this new health guidance.
"Additionally, the Trump Administration is approving a new treatment option that has been found to improve some autism symptoms. President Trump pledged to address America’s skyrocketing rates of autism, and his team is deploying Gold Standard Science to deliver on this pledge. We will not be deterred in these efforts as we know millions across America are grateful.”
As it stands, acetaminophen/paracetamol is actually the first thing medical experts recommend for pain management in pregnancy.
Guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians (ACOG) and Gynecologists, Britain’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), and other medical organisations all recommend it and say it is safe.
However, expectant mothers are warned not to use ibuprofen, naproxen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the third trimester.
The ACOG and RCOG warn that these medications can lead to birth defects.