Dr. Mehmet Oz, serving as the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, advised that pregnant women should limit their use of Tylenol unless necessary. This recommendation comes after reviewing studies indicating a potential connection to autism, though he noted it’s acceptable for severe symptoms.

In an interview on “CUOMO” on Thursday, Oz shared that the administration examined 46 studies, raising concerns about the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy. Despite the research being incomplete, officials decided it was important to inform the public of the “early signals” they observed.

“For significant symptoms like a high fever or severe aches and pains, using a medication like Tylenol makes sense,” Oz explained. “However, for mild discomforts or a slight fever, it might not be advisable to readily take acetaminophen or Tylenol.”

This advice is influenced by a Harvard study that found a link between Tylenol and autism, although it did not prove a “definitive causation.” Oz noted that it might take “at least five more years of research” to determine whether acetaminophen is a direct cause of autism.

High fever, severe pain still warrant medication use, administrator says

The cautionary guidance aligns with President Donald Trump’s remarks about Tylenol’s potential risks in pregnancy. However, the lead researcher of the Harvard study later mentioned that more research is necessary to clearly establish causality, distancing himself from the administration’s stance.

Oz justified releasing these preliminary insights, questioning whether the government should inform expectant mothers with the available data or wait for solid evidence before making a public statement.

“The key question I would ask the researchers was, if your wife was pregnant, would you recommend that she cut back and use as little of the acetaminophen Tylenol as possible, or not?” Oz said. “And most people said, ‘Yeah, why would you take more than you need to?'”

The administrator also discussed leucovorin, a prescription medication that might help some children with autism better absorb folate, a B vitamin. 

Studies involving about 250 children showed roughly half experienced some benefit, though Oz said definitive proof would require additional research.