Tylenol manufacturer saw its share take a nosedive on Monday when US President Donald Trump, known for his bizarre medical claims, linked the use of most common painkiller Tylenol by pregnant women with a “meteoric rise” in autism among children.
In response, the New Jersey-based company said it “strongly disagrees” with the comments, emphasizing that “sound science” has found no connection between acetaminophen, Tylenol’s active ingredient, and autism. Despite the selloff, Kenvue shares rebounded by about 6% in pre-market trading on Tuesday.
Difference between Tylenol and Panadol
Tylenol and Panadol are brand names for the same active ingredient: acetaminophen, or paracetamol. Tylenol is more commonly sold in North America, while Panadol is widely available in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Both are used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever and are often recommended during pregnancy for conditions such as headaches, body aches, or flu-like symptoms.
What does the research actually say?
The scientific world has been arguing for a long time as to whether there’s any connection between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and children’s neurodevelopmental outcomes.
A significant meta-analysis conducted in August reviewed 46 studies, led by researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Of the 27 studies, 27 identified some association between Tylenol use in pregnancy and disorders such as autism or ADHD. Yet the research emphasized that the proof was not good enough to establish causation and suggested use in moderation, not avoidance.
In contrast, a thorough Swedish study released in 2024 did not find any statistically significant association. This study tracked 2.4 million children born between 1995 and 2019, finding that maternal acetaminophen use did not raise autism risk.
“The conflict in findings is a reflection of the challenge of separating one factor from others in multifaceted neurodevelopmental outcomes,” explained Dr. Sara Lindstrom, a pediatric epidemiologist. “Correlation is not causation—and currently, there’s no strong foundation to dissuade the prescribed use of acetaminophen during pregnancy.”
Safe or Unsafe?
While the safety of any drug during pregnancy should always be discussed with a healthcare provider, Tylenol (or Panadol) remains widely recommended by global health authorities, including the U.S. FDA, WHO, and NHS. Experts stress that sudden panic or self-medication based on public figures’ opinions can do more harm than good.
