Fact Check: Can Tylenol Cause Autism?

The medical research community is always in search of answers for why certain disorders develop and what things can be done to prevent them from happening in the first place. When it comes to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), much progress has been made in this arena in the last 25 years.

It’s generally accepted that there is no one definitive cause of autism, but rather many different potential things that could increase the risk for children developing the neurodevelopmental disorder. This includes genetics and environmental factors such as exposure to pollution and toxins, maternal obesity and diabetes, and advanced parental age.

There have also been links discovered between certain medications that women take while they’re pregnant and a higher risk of their children having autism. Some people have questioned whether taking Tylenol during pregnancy can cause autism, but that has been debunked by many studies.

We’ll go into more detail about those studies below.

Learn more about maternal health and autism risks

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Can Tylenol Cause Autism?

Many women take Tylenol while they’re pregnant to help them deal with a number of regular issues they face, from headaches to soreness and more. Whether they use the brand name Tylenol or a generic form, the active ingredient that’s at question is called acetaminophen.

A recent study that the National Institutes of Health funded found that there was no causal link between pregnant mothers taking Tylenol and their children having autism.

That study, conducted by Drexel University and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, found that previous studies that suggested a link between Tylenol and autism hadn’t factored in the “high heritability” of disorders such as autism, intellectual disabilities and ADHD.

It also found that there were other likely variables that ended up distorting the results of the previous studies. Some of these include the fact that acetaminophen usage was more common for children who were born to parents who had a higher BMI in early pregnancy, who smoked while they were pregnant, who had a psychiatric disorder and who were in a lower socio-economic class.

Do Doctors Suggest Pregnant Women Not Take Tylenol?

For many years, doctors have considered Tylenol, or acetaminophen, as one of the few pain relievers that is safe for women to take while they’re pregnant. Following the publication of research that initially — and incorrectly — suggested Tylenol usage was linked to autism, one medical organization responded to refute the results.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a consensus statement that recommended no changes to how doctors prescribe Tylenol to pregnant women for certain conditions.

Their reasoning was that there is no solid research that has established that Tylenol causes autism. Of course, the ACOG added that, as with all medications, Tylenol in all its forms should be taken by pregnant women in moderation and only when absolutely needed.

Do Some Medications Cause Autism?

While recent research has definitively stated that Tylenol doesn’t cause autism, there are other medications that may.

For instance, there have been links drawn between the usage of valproate — an antiepileptic drug that is sold under multiple brand names including Depakote — and autism. In fact, some studies have shown that women who take valproate while pregnant or before they become pregnant could increase the risk of their child having ASD by up to 10%.

Pregnant women who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, have also been found to be more at risk of having children who have autism.

So, even though Tylenol has been proven not to cause autism, there are some medications that do put mothers and their babies at higher risk.

It’s always important for pregnant women to check with their doctors before taking any medication, whether it’s a prescription or an over-the-counter medication.

Blue Gems ABA Supports Children on the Autism Spectrum

Despite some research studies suggesting otherwise, there has been no definitive evidence that Tylenol causes autism. In recent years, research has suggested that previous conclusions to the contrary were inaccurate because they didn’t take other factors into consideration.

That doesn’t mean that pregnant women can take whatever medication they want, as there are some drugs — as mentioned above — that can increase the risk of children developing ASD.

At Blue Gems ABA, we have a team of BCBAs who are dedicated to helping support children on the autism spectrum. We do this by administering applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy, on a one-to-one basis.

Using positive reinforcement, repetition and many other strategies, we help children with autism build the social, communication and daily life skills they commonly struggle with.

All of our ABA therapy treatment plans are crafted for each individual to address the specific and unique strengths and challenges they face.

To learn more, please contact us today.