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EMA Rejects Claim That Prenatal Paracetamol Causes Autism

Regulators reaffirm no causal link, keeping guidance on cautious use in pregnancy.

Overview

  • President Donald Trump asserted that taking paracetamol during pregnancy leads to autism, offering no new supporting evidence.
  • EMA chief medical officer Steffen Thirstrup said the agency sees no evidence of causation and that paracetamol remains an important option for treating pain or fever in pregnant women.
  • The EMA reported no new data warranting changes to EU recommendations, which advise the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary duration.
  • Researchers highlighted large and sibling/twin-controlled studies, including a 2024 analysis of about 186,000 participants, that found no link after accounting for confounding factors.
  • Scientists and advocacy groups condemned the claim as misinformation and urged parents to follow established medical guidance, noting that untreated maternal pain or fever can also pose risks.