Trusting the Science… Selectively?
Trusting the Science… Selectively?
Funny how we were all told to “trust the science” during the COVID years. People lined up to take a vaccine developed in record time, with public messaging emphasizing that serious side effects were very rare (Memorial Sloan Kettering, 2025). In many workplaces, employees were even required to get it or risk losing their jobs (PMC, 2021). Many accepted this because we were told, very clearly, that “vaccines save lives”—and indeed, estimates suggest COVID-19 vaccines prevented about 14.4 million deaths worldwide in their first year alone (Watson et al., Lancet Infect Dis, 2022).
Now rewind to current times. New research has suggested a possible link between acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. The FDA recently acknowledged this evidence and announced it would begin updating drug labels (FDA, 2025). Mount Sinai researchers have also published findings supporting the potential connection (Mount Sinai, 2025).
But suddenly, “trust the science” doesn’t seem to apply here. Why? Because some people want to twist the conversation into politics.
First of all—can we please stop making EVERYTHING about politics? This isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans, left vs. right. Why do we keep letting issues like this divide us?
Secondly—let’s be clear: NO ONE is telling you to stop taking Tylenol if you’re pregnant!
This isn’t a mandate.
You aren’t being ordered to stop taking it.
You’re not going to get fired from your job if you do or don’t.
If you want to continue taking it, go ahead. Because THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY.
Here’s some perspective: My mother-in-law was prescribed tetracycline when she was pregnant with my husband. At the time, it was considered safe. Years later, research showed that taking tetracycline during pregnancy could cause permanent staining and developmental issues with a child’s teeth (NCBI StatPearls, 2023; EBM Consult). As a result, my husband has struggled with dental issues his whole life—a lasting example of how medical advice evolves as science advances.
That’s the reality of science: sometimes, risks only come to light years later, when better technology and long-term studies allow us to see what earlier generations couldn’t.
It’s also worth noting that not all studies agree. For example, a large sibling-controlled cohort study published in JAMA (2024) found no significant association between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability once genetic and environmental factors were accounted for (Ahlqvist et al., 2024). This highlights how complex the issue is—and why ongoing research matters.
So here’s my bottom line:
If you’re pregnant and considering Tylenol, talk it over with your healthcare provider. Make the decision that feels right for you and your family. But for the love of sanity, let’s stop twisting words, pulling things out of context, and making every new study a political battleground.
It’s exhausting—and it’s getting old.
