The debate over whether Tylenol is safe to use during pregnancy is back in the headlines after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued new warnings urging women to limit acetaminophen use while expecting. What makes the moment especially striking is that Tylenol itself has, in its own words, repeatedly told consumers not to use its products during pregnancy.
Tylenol’s Public Warnings
The company’s official Twitter account has twice responded to concerned parents with surprisingly blunt replies:
In 2017, Tylenol wrote:
We actually don’t recommend using any of our products while pregnant. Thank you for taking the time to voice your concerns today.
Two years later, the account told another user:
Congrats on your upcoming addition! SO exciting! It’d be great to touch base real quick since we haven’t tested Tylenol to be used during pregnancy
While the second tweet trails off mid-message, the implication was clear: the company itself admitted its product hasn’t been fully tested for pregnancy use.
HHS Warnings and Renewed Scrutiny
The Department of Health and Human Services also revived and highlighted the Tylenol posts:
The timing could not be more relevant. Earlier this month, HHS released new guidance cautioning pregnant women about frequent or prolonged use of Tylenol, citing observational research that suggests possible developmental risks. While those studies do not prove causation, the federal government’s public warning adds weight to concerns that many parents have quietly raised for years.
Despite the clear warnings, some pregnant women, leaning into their hatred for President Trump, are now intentionally downing Tylneol.
Now Tylenol’s own words are resurfacing, showing that the company had already gone on record telling women not to use its products during pregnancy.
Previous Warnings
This is not the first time a government agency has weighed in on Tylenol use by pregnant women. Back in 2015, during the Obama years, the FDA warned of potential issues and encouraged judicious use of pain meds during pregnancy:
A Tension Between Medical Advice and Marketing
For decades, doctors have generally viewed acetaminophen as the safer choice compared to alternatives like ibuprofen. Yet Tylenol’s tweets show that the company has been more cautious than the broader medical community, at least in its public messaging. Saying “we actually don’t recommend using any of our products while pregnant” is not just hedging liability. It is an acknowledgement that testing in this area has been limited, and safety cannot be guaranteed.
That statement, paired with the HHS warning, puts Tylenol in an uncomfortable spotlight. The brand is caught between its long-standing market as the “safe” pain reliever and its own public acknowledgment that expecting mothers should think twice.
If you examine news archives more closely, there are plenty of examples warning that too much Tylenol exposure during pregnancy can cause harm.
The Bottom Line
With millions of pregnant women having relied on Tylenol for decades, the stakes are enormous, but Tylenol’s own words speak volumes. As HHS urges caution, parents can look back at these tweets and realize the brand itself had already delivered the same warning years ago.
Turns out President Trump and Secretary Kennedy, taking Tylonol’s own warnings, are actually looking out for pregnant women and their unborn children after all.