The Swedish Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket) has firmly dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks linking paracetamol, a commonly used painkiller like Alvedon, to autism. The agency has reassured Swedish women that there is no cause for concern regarding the use of the drug during pregnancy.
Ulla Wändel Liminga, the scientific leader at Läkemedelsverket, emphasized the importance of relying on scientific evidence. “There is no reason to be worried,” she stated. “The claims made by President Trump are not supported by any scientific findings.”
During a press conference earlier this week, President Trump suggested that pregnant women avoid Tylenol (which contains paracetamol), citing an alleged connection between the drug and autism. His statements have raised alarm among expectant mothers in the U.S. and internationally, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to announce updates to the drug’s labeling and to issue a nationwide letter to healthcare professionals.
However, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has been quick to counter these claims. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the EMA reinforced that no new evidence had emerged to justify altering the European Union’s existing guidelines on the use of paracetamol during pregnancy.
“Our advice is based on a careful review of available scientific data. At this time, there is no evidence to support a link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism,” said Steffen Thirstrup, medical director at the EMA.
The Swedish Medicines Agency echoed the EMA’s position. “We have thoroughly assessed studies and scientific data over the years and have found no evidence linking paracetamol to either birth defects or autism,” Ulla Wändel Liminga remarked.
While she understands the anxiety caused by the President’s comments, Liminga reassured pregnant women that if they need paracetamol for pain relief, they can continue to use it safely.
“It’s essential that decisions about healthcare and medication are based on rigorous scientific evaluations,” she stressed. “In this case, there is simply no scientific foundation for the claims made by the Trump administration.”
The Swedish Medicines Agency’s message comes at a time when global health authorities are working to ensure that public health decisions remain informed by credible evidence, not unfounded fears or misinformation.