What to know about Tylenol’s 2017 social media post and pregnancy guidance

When Tylenol’s parent company addressed President Donald Trump’s warning this week about a link between Tylenol and autism, it said the active ingredient, acetaminophen, is the safest pain reliever available for pregnant women. 

Two days after Trump’s news conference, social media sleuths found an old tweet from the company that they said undermined the company’s message.

“We actually don’t recommend using any of our products while pregnant,” Tylenol wrote March 7, 2017, replying to another post. “Thank you for taking the time to voice your concerns today.” 

The post Tylenol replied to has since been deleted, so it’s impossible to know what comment prompted this reply nearly eight and a half years ago. 

Some social media users questioned its authenticity. 

“How can this be real?” sportscaster Samantha Ponder wrote on X. “Every doctor I had, for all three pregnancies, told me it’s totally fine to take Tylenol. What is going on?!”

The Trump administration touted the 2017 post as proof that prenatal use of Tylenol isn’t safe. 

RELATED: Research doesn’t show using Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism. Here’s what else you should know 

The White House X account reposted Tylenol’s 2017 post and shared a photo of Trump holding up one of his signature red hats that said: “Trump was right about everything.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also weighed in, sharing a screenshot of Tylenol’s post and writing, “No caption needed.”

The White House and Department of Health and Human Services shared Tylenol’s 2017 post on Sept. 24, 2025. (Screenshots from X) 

Trump allies including Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., also cast the old post as the brand’s current position. 

“To all Democrats with Trump Derangement Syndrome, your TDS is putting kids lives at risk,” Mace wrote. “Here is @tylenol’s warning for pregnant women: Don’t use tylenol.”

Melissa Witt, a spokesperson for Tylenol’s parent company, Kenvue, told PolitiFact the 2017 post was “being taken out of context.” 

“We do not recommend pregnant women take any medication without talking to their doctor,” she said. “This is consistent with the regulations and product label for acetaminophen.”

Here’s context for the confusion.

Tylenol’s other social media posts and drug label encourage pregnant patients to seek medical guidance

Other posts Tylenol issued around the same time instructed people to consult clinicians before taking Tylenol products. 

“If you are pregnant/nursing, seek the advice of your healthcare professional before using Tylenol or any other medication,” Tylenol wrote in late 2016.

In February 2017, it advised another social media user — who had praised Tylenol “for being pregnancy safe” — to seek a clinician’s advice: “Thanks for the shout out Carrie!” Tylenol wrote. “Just make sure to talk to your doctor before taking Tylenol while you’re pregnant.”

On its own, the March 2017 post is at odds with more recent public statements from Tylenol and its parent company. 

Kenvue told PolitiFact on Sept. 22 that acetaminophen is “the safest pain reliever” option available throughout an entire pregnancy. 

“Without it, women face dangerous choices: suffer through conditions like fever that are potentially harmful to both mom and baby or use riskier alternatives,” the company’s statement said. “High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated.”

On Sept. 22, Tylenol posted an Instagram video highlighting Tylenol’s label, which encourages people who are pregnant or breast feeding to talk to a health professional.

“Your doctor is the best person to advise whether taking medication is right for you based on your specific health needs,” the video said.

Since 2021, Tylenol has used its account on X — the platform where the 2017 post originated — only to reply to other users. 

Doctors say using Tylenol during pregnancy is safe, while untreated pain and fever pose health risks

Medical professionals and researchers — not just brands like Tylenol that sell acetaminophen products — have long advised pregnant patients that Tylenol is the safest option to reduce fever or pain. 

Maternal and prenatal care groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, support the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy — and have reaffirmed their support in recent days. 

The Trump administration’s recent effort to discourage the use of Tylenol during pregnancy rests on the unproven idea that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases a child’s risk of autism — and it’s based on conflicting science, experts told PolitiFact. 

Some studies have found that children exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy were more likely to have autism symptoms or be diagnosed with autism, but other studies found no such association. Association is not the same as causation, however. All that to say: Research showing an association between Tylenol and autism doesn’t prove the medication caused autism.

As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Sept. 22 it had “initiated the process” to change acetaminophen labels, it also acknowledged the drug isn’t a proven cause of autism. 

“It is important to note that while an association between acetaminophen and neurological conditions has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature,” it said. 

Finally, there’s one more detail to keep in mind: Avoiding Tylenol during pregnancy might have negative consequences. 

Research has linked untreated fevers during pregnancy to an increased risk of birth defects and other pregnancy complications, particularly if they occur during the first trimester. Untreated pain can lead to maternal depression, anxiety and high blood pressure. 

“Maternal fever, headaches as an early sign of preeclampsia, and pain are all managed with the therapeutic use of acetaminophen, making acetaminophen essential to the people who need it,” said Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists president. “The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus.” 

PolitiFact Staff Writer Samantha Putterman contributed to this report.

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