News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Wednesday, Patrick Attwell, pharmacy technician at LeFave Pharmacy in Alpena, is seen holding a bottle of Tylenol in its sealed packaging. Tylenol is a common type of acetaminophen, recently announced by the Trump administration as being a possible link to autism.

ALPENA — Local health authorities say the public should rely on medical professionals, not politicians, for medical advice following U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s announcement on Monday regarding a possible link between acetaminophen and autism.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy gave a press conference on Monday with President Donald Trump to announce a possible link between acetaminophen use among pregnant women leading to ADHD and autism in children.

During the press conference, Kennedy stated that the FDA “is responding to clinical and laboratory studies that suggest a potential association between acetaminophen used during pregnancy and adverse neurodedevelopmental outcomes including later diagnosis for ADHD and autism.”

Though Kennedy said there is a body of evidence that suggests a link between acetaminophen and autism, he clarified that HHS has “evaluated the contrary studies that show no association.”

Kennedy explained that the FDA would issue a physician’s notice about the risk of acetaminophen during pregnancy and “begin the process to initiate a safety label change.” In addition to these actions, Kennedy noted that the HHS will encourage clinicians to exercise “their best judgment and the use of acetaminophen for fevers and pain in pregnancy by prescribing the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary duration and only when treatment is required.”

District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) Medical Director, Dr. Joshua Meyerson, told The News that he “would caution against taking medical advice from attorneys and politicians.”

“I generally look to my health care providers for health information,” Meyerson added.

Meyerson referenced a statement by Steven J. Fleischman, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) president, challenging Kennedy’s announcement.

“Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy,” Fleischman said in his statement.

Meyerson acknowledged findings from early studies suggesting a link, but said that recent studies provide contrary conclusions.

“Although earlier studies suggested a potential association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, there has been no evidence to suggest a causal link,” Meyerson said. “More recent studies involving a very large population sample did not have any such association after controlling for other factors that could affect outcomes.”

Meyerson cited a study published in 2024 titled “Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability” by Viktor H. Ahlqvist, Hugo Sjöqvist, Christina Dalman, et al.

In a press release by HHS, the department states that the association between acetaminophen and neurological conditions has been “described in many studies.”

“Multiple large-scale cohort studies, including the Nurses’ Health Study II and the Boston Birth Cohort, find this association,” the HHS release states. “Some studies have described that the risk may be most pronounced when acetaminophen is taken chronically throughout pregnancy.”

The release also clarifies the HHS announcement, stating that a “casual relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature.”

According to the department, acetaminophen is the only over-the-counter drug approved to treat fevers during pregnancy. The department states that high fevers in pregnant women can pose a risk to their children, while aspirin and ibuprofen “have well-documented adverse impacts on the fetus.”

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated the department is “taking action” to inform parents and doctors of evidence that suggests potential risks associated with acetaminophen.

“Even with this body of evidence, the choice still belongs with parents,” Makary said in the release. “The precautionary principle may lead many to avoid using acetaminophen during pregnancy, especially since most low-grade fevers don’t require treatment. It remains reasonable, however, for pregnant women to use acetaminophen in certain scenarios.”

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.