Here’s a public service announcement.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) has been used safely for decades to treat pain and fever in pregnant patients with no known adverse effects to the patient or fetus.
The problem with non-trained politicians saying not to take this product will result in countless fatalities in the fetus, since it would increase the possibility of people instead taking an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).
It is well established that NSAID use in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of premature constriction of the ductus arteriosus, a fatal adverse effect of the fetus. NSAIDs are available in many over-the-counter products such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, in many combinations. They should be avoided during pregnancy.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice.
Richard Finkel, Fort Lauderdale
The writer is a retired clinical assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy.
Misguided fearmongering
I truly believe the most dangerous man in Trump’s Cabinet is Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
His threats to public health are unending. His anti-vax movement put many of us and our children at risk from COVID-19, polio, measles and whooping cough. Trump and RFK Jr. want to ban the COVID-19 vaccine entirely.
Their anti-Tylenol arguments are based on misguided misinformation. Acetaminophen is a first-line pain reliever for mild to moderate pain and fever.
From the Sun Sentinel editorial of Sept. 29 (“Don’t trust ‘Doctor Trump”), Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said, “What we are going to continue to tell our patients is that when needed, Tylenol is considered a safe medication to use in pregnancy. I think the risk of the fever is higher …”
I must also mention, Tylenol has helped me through many headaches in Trump’s second term.
Connie Goodman-Milone, Miami
What some studies found
Read the science.
“Taking Tylenol during pregnancy associated with elevated risks for autism, ADHD” — Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (hub.jhu.edu).
“Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders using the navigation guide methodology” — ehjournal.biomedcentral.com
“Mount Sinai study supports evidence that prenatal acetaminophen use may be linked to increased risk of autism and ADHD” — mountsinai.org
Your words are just opinions, but some readers think it’s the truth. Quoting doctors who don’t read the science is not helpful for the public.
Sherry Wipplinger, Fort Lauderdale
Our children’s future
If people think Tylenol is bad for the future of young children, wait until they find out about guns.
Donald Kogan, Boca Raton
Contempt for drug dealers
I say, full speed ahead when it comes to killing drug dealers.
I view them with the same contempt I hold for murderers and rapists. Drug dealers are actually worse because they slowly destroy lives for monetary gain and cause far more harm to others. The lives of too many parents and loved ones have been crushed by drugs.
It’s time to change the narrative.
Several years ago, I toured Asia on vacation. One stop was Bangkok. At the time, the big news story there was that the Thai government sentenced a British citizen to death for dealing drugs. Obviously, this was not some low-level dealer but a known kingpin.
At the time, I found it alarming that a citizen of a foreign country could be executed for the crime of peddling drugs. Twenty years later, I wholeheartedly agree with the Thai government’s decision. I think the U.S. should execute serious drug dealers for the same reason. Today, 34 countries execute hardcore drug dealers.
Trump has now authorized the destruction of four drug courier boats in the Caribbean. This will make drug runners think twice about getting into a boat full of cocaine and heading to the U.S.
Burt Long, Sunrise
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