Trump Administration Links Tylenol Use During Pregnancy to Autism, Proposes Leucovorin as Treatment

On September 22, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that his administration has identified a potential link between the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. He urged pregnant women to limit acetaminophen use to cases of high fever, stating, "if you can’t tough it out."

The administration also introduced leucovorin, a form of folic acid traditionally used to mitigate side effects of certain chemotherapies, as a potential treatment for speech-related deficits associated with ASD. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to update leucovorin's labeling to include this new indication, and state Medicaid programs are expected to cover the treatment.

These announcements have been met with skepticism from the medical community. Experts emphasize that existing research does not establish a causal relationship between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine highlighted the risks of untreated fever during pregnancy and noted that current evidence is inconclusive regarding acetaminophen's role in ASD.

Similarly, the Autism Science Foundation stated that any association between acetaminophen and autism is based on limited, conflicting, and inconsistent science.

The administration's focus on leucovorin as a treatment has also raised concerns. Dr. Shafali Jeste, a pediatric neurologist specializing in autism, cautioned that families might invest in this treatment without sufficient evidence of its effectiveness, potentially at the expense of established interventions like behavioral and speech therapies.

In response to the announcement, shares of Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol, experienced a significant decline.