Frequently Asked Questions
Tylenol® and Autism
We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned about the health risks and confusion this poses for expecting mothers and parents.
Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy. Without it, women face dangerous choices: suffer through conditions like fever that are potentially harmful to both mom and baby or use riskier alternatives. High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated.
Acetaminophen is also one of the most widely studied pain relievers and fever reducers in infants and children, and numerous randomized, controlled clinical trials support the safety of acetaminophen in infants and children when used as directed.
The facts are that over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. We stand with the many public health and medical professionals who have reviewed this science and agree, including:
Summary of available data*
This is not intended to represent an analysis of the data or to support the use of our products beyond the current labeling. Due to reasons related to copyrights, we are not able to provide reprints for published literature.
There have been eight studies looking at the relationship between in utero exposure and autism diagnosis. The most methodologically robust studies (Okubo 2025, Ahlqvist 2024, Janecka 2018) show no evidence of an association; three studies (Mkhitaryan 2024, Saunders 2019, and Ji 2018) show no statistically significant association; and two studies (Ji 2020 and Liew 2016) show a statistically significant association but lack sufficient data to properly adjust for known confounders, including genetics/familial factors and indication for use. There are also some studies that use screening tools to assess a relationship between in utero exposure and symptoms of autism. However, these studies have limited value in assessing a causal association for diagnosed autism as they are not a reliable tool for diagnosing autism.
* Kenvue continuously reviews the latest science and safety data on all our products. For the topic of use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and adverse fetal outcomes, Kenvue has performed rigorous review of related studies. The eight studies referenced in this section are those studies which measured the outcome of physician-diagnosed autism.