The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) yesterday (September 22) issued a statement reassuring the public that “there is no evidence taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children”.
It said the drug “remains safe” and is still the “recommended pain relief for pregnant women when used as directed”.
It comes after US President Donald Trump yesterday claimed that taking Tylenol – also known as paracetamol – during pregnancy “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism”.
Read more: Trump calls for investigation into link between vaccines and autism
MHRA chief safety officer Dr Alison Cave stressed, however, that there is “no evidence” of this.
“Our advice on medicines in pregnancy is based on rigorous assessment of the best available scientific evidence,” she said, adding that pregnant women should “continue to follow existing NHS guidance and speak to their healthcare professional if they have questions”.
And Dr Cave said that the MHRA “continuously monitor the safety of all medicines, including those used during pregnancy, through robust monitoring and surveillance”.
Take it
National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chair Olivier Picard today (September 23) reiterated the MHRA’s message, stating that “paracetamol remains an effective and safe pain relief option for patients, including for pregnant women”.
“Leaving fever and pain untreated can pose risks to unborn babies,” he said, adding that pharmacies are “following advice from UK regulators closely and are encouraging pregnant women to continue to take paracetamol as their first-choice pain relief, where this is appropriate”.
“If patients are concerned about any of the medications they are taking, including pain relief, they should speak to their pharmacist who can advise them,” Picard stressed.
Read more: US pharmacies endorse ‘vaccine-sceptic’ new health sec RFK Jr
It comes after Trump nominated Robert F Kennedy Jr – popularly known as RFK Jr – as US health secretary in November despite his controversial comments about vaccines.
And in December, the US President called for an investigation into the link between vaccines and autism – a debunked claim – and said that RFK Jr would be “working with” drug companies to find out “what’s happening”.
