Dr. Mehmet Oz is sharing his thoughts after President Trump announced a potential link between Tylenol and autism on Monday.
Trump warned pregnant women to strongly consider against taking the over-the-counter pain reliever, despite medical professionals previously claiming it to be safe.
Singer-actress Holly Robinson Peete publicly bashed Trump’s claim.
“For far too long, mothers have been unfairly blamed for their children’s #autism. Many of us have worked tirelessly to erase that stigma and replace it with truth and love,” the celebrity and mother to a son with autism commented.
While Dr. Oz doesn’t outright deny Trump’s claim, he chooses to take the middle ground while Trump and Peete lean on two opposite sides of the scale.
In an interview, the celebrity doctor said, “We know that people who take Tylenol for prolonged periods of time during pregnancy seem to have a higher incidence of autism in aggregate. So the message is not, ‘Never take Tylenol.’ It’s, ‘Take Tylenol judiciously.’”
Basically, Dr. Oz says to “be smart” with taking Tylenol. Keep it in moderation, and don’t just take it because you can.
“Take it by talking with your doctor. Make sure there’s an important reason to take it. Don’t take it willy-nilly because you think it’s so safe it couldn’t possibly cause a problem, because those assumptions appear to be erroneous,” he continued.
According to Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women who choose not to take Tylenol when directed by a doctor put their fetus at more risk.
“The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus,” Dr. Fleischman said.
“Maternal fever, headaches as an early sign of preeclampsia, and pain are all managed with the therapeutic use of acetaminophen, making acetaminophen essential to the people who need it . . . When considering the use of medication in pregnancy, it’s important to consider all potential risks along with any benefits.”
