The Scottish health secretary has said Donald Trump's remarks on paracetamol "will have added" to the anxiety faced by pregnant women as he has stressed the painkillers are safe.
The Scottish health secretary's comments come after the US President said doctors in America will be advised not to prescribe paracetamol, commonly known as Tylenol in the US, to pregnant women after he cited an unproven link between the drug and autism.
Mr Trump did not provide any evidence for this, however, he said he was acting because he claimed the number of children with autism is facing a “meteoric rise”.
The US president said the drug “is no good” and that pregnant women should "fight like hell" to only take it in cases of extreme fever.
On Vaccines, Mr Trump said fragile babies were being pumped full of liquid like they were "horses" and that combination vaccines were harmful.
He also singled out the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) as one that he had heard a lot of bad things about it over the years.
After the US President's unproven claim yesterday that paracetamol is linked to autism, Neil Gray told journalists there is "no evidence to say that paracetamol is anything other than safe”.
Mr Gray also said that Mr Trump's comments "will have added" to any anxiety faced by pregnant mothers.
Reacting to Mr Trump's remarks on vaccines, Mr Gray said the Government was "extremely concerned about that impact that has for our public health messaging."
Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Professor Alison Strath said: “The strong evidence base available shows that paracetamol continues to be the safe, recommended choice for managing pain relief and fever during pregnancy. We know how important it is for pregnant women to feel confident about their healthcare choices, so please do continue following NHS guidance and have open conversations with your midwife, GP or pharmacist about any concerns.”
Medical experts have opposed Mr Trump's claims, with some calling the president's comments dangerous.
UK health officials have already stressed the drug remains the safest painkiller available to pregnant women.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, Scottish Labour MP and the UK minister for patient safety, posted on X: “For the avoidance of any doubt, Paracetamol remains the safest painkiller to take during pregnancy.”
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Streeting: Pay no attention to Trump’s claims on paracetamol link to autism
UK Health secretary Wes Streeting also said expectant mothers should ignore Donald Trump’s claims and to "trust doctors over Trump".
Mr Streeting told ITV’s Lorraine: “I’ve just got to be really clear about this: there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None.
“In fact, a major study was done back in 2024 in Sweden, involving 2.4 million children, and it did not uphold those claims.
“So I would just say to people watching, don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine. In fact, don’t even take my word for it as a politician – listen to British doctors, British scientists, the NHS.”
Making the remarks on the drug on Monday, Mr Trump had said the rise of children with autism in the States is “among the most alarming public health developments in history”.
Experts, however, say the rise is largely explained by greater awareness and better diagnostic methods.
