Tylenol is on sale at a pharmacy in New York City, New York, USA on September 5, 2025.
Kylie Cooper | Reuters
The Trump administration is scheduled to announce on Monday that pregnant women’s use of Tylenol may be linked to autism, according to the Washington Post.
Federal health officials are expected to warn women not to use Tylenol early in pregnancy unless they have a fever, the Post reported Sunday, citing four people familiar with the issue. Authorities also highlight a type of folic acid known as leucovorin as a potential autism treatment, according to the report.
The Department of Health and Human Services and the White House did not immediately respond to CNBC requests for comments.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that his administration will make an autism-related announcement on Monday.
“I think that’s going to be a very important announcement,” Trump said in a statement at an event hosted by the American Foundation Stone Institute. “I think that will be one of the most important things we do.”
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that HHS Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would soon release a report linking the use of the common painkiller acetaminophen, the common name of Tylenol, during autism during pregnancy. Tylenol maker stock Kamb It fell sharply following the report.
A Kenvue spokesperson told CNBC in a statement that “more than a decade of rigorous research approved by leading health professionals and global health regulators” showed no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism.
“We believe that independent science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,” the spokesman said. “If not, I will strongly oppose any suggestions and be deeply concerned with the health risks this poses in order to expect a mother.”
Tylenol added a section to its site that addresses “recent media coverage,” saying “there is no proven link between acetaminophen and taking autism.”
According to another report in the Wall Street Journal, Kenvue CEO Kirk Perry met with Kennedy earlier this month to highlight his message and try to discourage Tylenol from including it as a potential cause of autism in future reports on disability.
Kenvue executives also said there are few safe alternatives to acetaminophen to reduce fever in pregnant women, the journal reported.
The Food and Drug Administration and major healthcare providers advocate that acetaminophen is safe when directed during pregnancy, but advises individuals to consult with their healthcare provider before using over-the-counter medications.
Kennedy pledges to make autism an important focus in HHS and “reach the bottom” of the causes of neurodevelopmental conditions. He shares unsupported claims about its prevalence and past autism surrounding its causes.
– Reported by Annika Kim Constantino of CNBC.
