A new TikTok trend showing pregnant women taking Tylenol has ignited controversy in the United States after the Trump administration linked the painkiller to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
At a press conference on Monday, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK Jr. warned expectant mothers against using the medication, also known as paracetamol or acetaminophen, citing concerns over long-term effects on child development. He suggested that prenatal exposure may increase risks of autism spectrum disorders and ADHD, urging women to avoid the drug unless absolutely necessary.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) followed the remarks by initiating steps to update the safety labeling of acetaminophen products. Physicians across the country were also notified of potential risks as regulatory agencies began reviewing available clinical and observational studies.
Despite the warnings, TikTok quickly became a platform of defiance. Numerous users, many of them pregnant, posted videos of themselves taking Tylenol with captions mocking the government’s stance. One video showed a woman swallowing the pill alongside the caption: “me popping Tylenol while pregnant cause WTF is the government gonna do about it.”
Another widely viewed video read: “I have a list of things I would be worried about if I were pregnant now in the US, but taking Tylenol for my fever wouldn’t be one of them.”
Medical professionals have stepped in to urge caution. Dr. Michelle Vu, an obstetrician who also uses TikTok, sought to reassure her audience, saying, “It’s gonna work like a charm and my baby won’t have autism.” However, other physicians pushed back against dismissive attitudes.
Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and media commentator, posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Pregnant women popping Tylenol like Tic Tacs just to stick it to Trump — please stop.” She added that acetaminophen should only be used when absolutely necessary, and then at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration, aligning with existing medical guidance.
The controversy underscores the increasing intersection of politics, health policy, and social media culture. While acetaminophen has long been regarded as one of the safer pain relief options during pregnancy compared to alternatives like ibuprofen, recent studies have suggested possible associations with developmental disorders. Critics, however, argue that the evidence is not yet conclusive and that scaremongering risks creating unnecessary panic among expectant mothers.
Public health experts caution that while individual expressions of defiance may gain traction online, they risk undermining trust in medical advice and complicating efforts to communicate nuanced health risks. The FDA has not issued a ban on Tylenol use in pregnancy but continues to review data and update guidelines.
As the debate unfolds, millions of American women face conflicting signals — balancing government warnings, medical advice, and viral social media narratives. For now, most physicians advise that acetaminophen should remain a last resort, to be taken cautiously and under medical supervision, until further clarity emerges from scientific research.
