Australia rebuts U.S. claim of paracetamol risk in pregnancy

Australian authorities have reaffirmed that paracetamol is safe for pregnant women, rejecting U.S. claims that it raises the risk of autism in babies.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s medicines regulator, said on Tuesday it has no active investigations into any link between paracetamol and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. The drug remains classified as Pregnancy Category A in Australia, a designation applied to medicines considered safe for use in pregnancy.

“The use of medications in pregnancy is subject to clinical, scientific and toxicological evaluation at the time of registration of a medicine in Australia,” the TGA said in a statement, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The clarification came after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that paracetamol, widely known as acetaminophen or Tylenol in the U.S., increases the risk of autism in babies when taken by pregnant women.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) urged the public to rely on medical advice from doctors and health authorities rather than political statements. AMA President Danielle McMullen told ABC that paracetamol remains the recommended option for managing pain and fever in pregnancy.

“Of course, like all medications, we try to use as little as possible when pregnant, but certainly for pain and fever in pregnancy, the advice here in Australia still is that paracetamol is a reasonable and safe option for pregnant women to use,” she said.

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