"Let me repeat: the study being spread around the world claiming to prove Tylenol in pregnancy is not linked to autism did not specifically ask pregnant moms whether or not they were taking Tylenol. Perhaps not the firmest foundation to bet one’s child on."
Every time someone brings up 'a study,' I wonder whether a) they actually read the study, and b) how the study was actually designed.
I came across a bunch of the studies describing the link between acetaminophen and autism not long after the birth of my first baby and as a result aggressively avoided its use in both of my children and my second pregnancy. In my experience doctors (wether pediatricians, ER, OB, or family medicine) do not follow or advocate for minimum use of acetaminophen but instead tell patients that it is perfectly safe. Every single OB appointment my healthcare team told me to remember that Tylenol is perfectly safe and I should take it as needed for my pregnancy aches and pains. I had a previous back injury that was exacerbated by the pregnancy and was working full time plus on call for almost my entire pregnancy, “as needed” would have been multiple times every day almost the entire pregnancy.
Once when the OB mentioned that I shouldn’t be afraid to use Tylenol as needed because it was “perfectly safe” I asked him how we actually knew that since acetaminophen was essentially grandfathered in and no real safety studies in pregnant women had been done. To his credit he acknowledged this but said basically well it’s been in use long enough and often enough that we would know if there were problems.
When we took my son to the ER for a fever that we couldn’t get to break (the local doctors at the time were sending all respiratory or possible Covid cases to the ER and not allowing them in clinic) we were basically told not to bring our kid to a doctor for a fever without at least trying Tylenol first. Turns out he had a bacterial pneumonia (we had all just gotten over influenza) and the cough we had been told was post viral and might last for six weeks was the only other symptom of his infection than his fever. Had we given him Tylenol who knows how much worse his pneumonia would have gotten before we sought treatment.
I also wonder if the switch from prescribing opioids for post op and other pain to a combo of acetaminophen and ibuprofen has lead to an increase in acetaminophen related complications. When I’ve had that combo recommended the doctor never discussed that perhaps this combo should be held in reserve for pain above a certain level. I know lots of people who go straight to the combo for any pain, discomfort, or fever.
Dr. Gary I read somewhere that scientists don’t know exactly how acetaminophen works to reduce pain/fever, what the mechanism is. Is that true? Thanks!! I don’t recall taking Tylenol during my pregnancy, I took ibuprofen on a limited basis as directed by my doctor for chronic neck pain except in the third trimester ( I think) whichever trimester you’re not supposed to take it at all. What I do remember is both twins slept very soundly after vaccine days and while we were grateful for the extra sleep it was worrisome as well because of my fear of SIDS.
lol yes you’re quite right! From one medical reference: “Although not fully elucidated, the analgesic effects are believed to be due to activation of descending serotonergic inhibitory pathways in the CNS. Interactions with other nociceptive systems may be involved as well (Smith 2009). Antipyresis is produced from inhibition of the hypothalamic heat-regulating center.”
😎 my hoping was that your highlighting the risks of misuse would make people more aware.
The characterization of apap as the most dangerous common drug in America, while categorically true, just felt like more of the alarmism we've been subjected to of late. I get your frustration tho 😎🔥
And how are emergency room acetaminophen over dose cases related to the autism studies? Does that somehow make the autism claim more credible?
Hopefully parents will read dosage labeling and keep it out of reach of kids. That accounts for about half the od deaths. The other half is due to intentional od.
The ER overdoses are in absolutely no way related to the autism studies! The article is very clear about that, I think.
And you’re right, it’s about 50/50 accidental vs intentional overdoses, which is also unrelated to the autism studies. But it’s good for parents and relatives to know how incredibly dangerous Tylenol can be to children, and considering that half the overdoses are accidental, we clearly are not doing a good enough job of warning people - “hoping” they will know to keep it away clearly has not been a winning strategy!
I would say the giant review of dozens of autism studies discussed in the article is probably where the relation to autism comes in. I don’t know, and the review itself agrees with this, that this is a definitive case, but it’s at least suggestive. And the only rebuttal I’ve seen from numerous prominent voices, including JAMA and the AAP and countless talking heads, is the gigantic Swedish study - which, as I point out in the article, is clearly a joke.
The deadly overdose angle is in there simply to highlight the outrageous bias and irresponsibility of media and public health voices, who spent years slandering as deadly dangerous a bunch of mostly harmless drugs, but are treating Tylenol like the elixir of life. If you’re gonna invent stories on the life threatening dangers of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, and not mention that Tylenol is the deadliest common drug in America, you’re full of it and deserve to be mocked.
"Let me repeat: the study being spread around the world claiming to prove Tylenol in pregnancy is not linked to autism did not specifically ask pregnant moms whether or not they were taking Tylenol. Perhaps not the firmest foundation to bet one’s child on."
Every time someone brings up 'a study,' I wonder whether a) they actually read the study, and b) how the study was actually designed.
Fantastic essay, Dr. Gaty. Thank you for writing this.
Excellent!
I came across a bunch of the studies describing the link between acetaminophen and autism not long after the birth of my first baby and as a result aggressively avoided its use in both of my children and my second pregnancy. In my experience doctors (wether pediatricians, ER, OB, or family medicine) do not follow or advocate for minimum use of acetaminophen but instead tell patients that it is perfectly safe. Every single OB appointment my healthcare team told me to remember that Tylenol is perfectly safe and I should take it as needed for my pregnancy aches and pains. I had a previous back injury that was exacerbated by the pregnancy and was working full time plus on call for almost my entire pregnancy, “as needed” would have been multiple times every day almost the entire pregnancy.
Once when the OB mentioned that I shouldn’t be afraid to use Tylenol as needed because it was “perfectly safe” I asked him how we actually knew that since acetaminophen was essentially grandfathered in and no real safety studies in pregnant women had been done. To his credit he acknowledged this but said basically well it’s been in use long enough and often enough that we would know if there were problems.
When we took my son to the ER for a fever that we couldn’t get to break (the local doctors at the time were sending all respiratory or possible Covid cases to the ER and not allowing them in clinic) we were basically told not to bring our kid to a doctor for a fever without at least trying Tylenol first. Turns out he had a bacterial pneumonia (we had all just gotten over influenza) and the cough we had been told was post viral and might last for six weeks was the only other symptom of his infection than his fever. Had we given him Tylenol who knows how much worse his pneumonia would have gotten before we sought treatment.
I also wonder if the switch from prescribing opioids for post op and other pain to a combo of acetaminophen and ibuprofen has lead to an increase in acetaminophen related complications. When I’ve had that combo recommended the doctor never discussed that perhaps this combo should be held in reserve for pain above a certain level. I know lots of people who go straight to the combo for any pain, discomfort, or fever.
Dr. Gary I read somewhere that scientists don’t know exactly how acetaminophen works to reduce pain/fever, what the mechanism is. Is that true? Thanks!! I don’t recall taking Tylenol during my pregnancy, I took ibuprofen on a limited basis as directed by my doctor for chronic neck pain except in the third trimester ( I think) whichever trimester you’re not supposed to take it at all. What I do remember is both twins slept very soundly after vaccine days and while we were grateful for the extra sleep it was worrisome as well because of my fear of SIDS.
lol yes you’re quite right! From one medical reference: “Although not fully elucidated, the analgesic effects are believed to be due to activation of descending serotonergic inhibitory pathways in the CNS. Interactions with other nociceptive systems may be involved as well (Smith 2009). Antipyresis is produced from inhibition of the hypothalamic heat-regulating center.”
😎 my hoping was that your highlighting the risks of misuse would make people more aware.
The characterization of apap as the most dangerous common drug in America, while categorically true, just felt like more of the alarmism we've been subjected to of late. I get your frustration tho 😎🔥
And how are emergency room acetaminophen over dose cases related to the autism studies? Does that somehow make the autism claim more credible?
Hopefully parents will read dosage labeling and keep it out of reach of kids. That accounts for about half the od deaths. The other half is due to intentional od.
The ER overdoses are in absolutely no way related to the autism studies! The article is very clear about that, I think.
And you’re right, it’s about 50/50 accidental vs intentional overdoses, which is also unrelated to the autism studies. But it’s good for parents and relatives to know how incredibly dangerous Tylenol can be to children, and considering that half the overdoses are accidental, we clearly are not doing a good enough job of warning people - “hoping” they will know to keep it away clearly has not been a winning strategy!
I would say the giant review of dozens of autism studies discussed in the article is probably where the relation to autism comes in. I don’t know, and the review itself agrees with this, that this is a definitive case, but it’s at least suggestive. And the only rebuttal I’ve seen from numerous prominent voices, including JAMA and the AAP and countless talking heads, is the gigantic Swedish study - which, as I point out in the article, is clearly a joke.
The deadly overdose angle is in there simply to highlight the outrageous bias and irresponsibility of media and public health voices, who spent years slandering as deadly dangerous a bunch of mostly harmless drugs, but are treating Tylenol like the elixir of life. If you’re gonna invent stories on the life threatening dangers of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, and not mention that Tylenol is the deadliest common drug in America, you’re full of it and deserve to be mocked.
Awesome essay- shared!!
Very interesting. Thanks. I didn't know any of this (of course) and, as usual, I'm smarter having read your article.
Omg…you have SUCH talent.
How is it you crack me up, yet leave me 10 times more informed afterwards??
🤣🤣🤣🤣