Does Tylenol cause autism?
The Claim
Tylenol causes autism.
The Facts
Early observational studies identified a connection between acetaminophen and autism. Many high-quality studies followed, which showed the relationshi
The Truth
Tylenol usage is safe and important for preventing harm when needed.
What we're hearing:
Tylenol causes autism.
What we're hearing:
Tylenol causes autism.
What's true:
In the early 2010s, some studies found that children exposed to acetaminophen (prenatally or in infancy) were more likely to later receive an autism diagnosis. When you look at this information without any other considerations, it can look like Tylenol could cause autism.
What's missing?
Those early studies were observational, which means they did not factor in why someone took Tylenol in the first place. After those early studies, dozens of higher-quality studies followed that did control for factors like genetics, family environment, and maternal illness like fever and infection. Those studies all showed the same thing: the relationship was not causal – meaning taking Tylenol did not cause autism.
What the early studies found was correlation. Tylenol happened to be present more often in situations that resulted in an autism diagnosis. Ice cream and sunburn are both present more often in summer; that doesn’t mean ice cream causes sunburn.
Tylenol is often taken to treat factors that we know do carry neurodevelopmental risks – things like fever, illness and immune activation. It’s more likely that the reason for taking the Tylenol in the first place had more of an impact than the Tylenol itself.
What's at stake:
Since this misconception has spread in the press and on social media, providers have seen a decrease in Tylenol usage – which is actually increasing the risk of harm instead of the opposite. In pregnancy as well as infancy, fevers can have real consequences. That’s why Tylenol is considered an important medication for pregnant women and infants.
Additionally, claims of Tylenol causing autism create a lot of anxiety, fear, guilt and blame in pregnant women and new parents – people who already have a lot on their shoulders.
Bottom line:
Pregnant women and parents should feel confident using Tylenol responsibly when needed.
