Tylenol Autism ADHD Lawsuit | Acetaminophen During Pregnancy Linked to Birth Defects

Tylenol Use While Pregnant Linked to Neurological Disorders in Children

Multiple research studies on over 200,000 children total have been completed, and all showed links between taking Tylenol during pregnancy and the elevated risks of autism and ADHD diagnoses, as well as other neurological disorders in children exposed.

In September 2021, a Consensus Statement from 91 doctors, scientists, clinicians, and public health officials was published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology titled “Paracetamol use during pregnancy – a call for precautionary action”.

The new study explains that using Tylenol or other paracetamol products during pregnancy puts children at a higher risk for developing neurological disorders such as:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Language delays
• Decreased IQ levels
• Cerebral palsy
• Oppositional-defiant disorder
• Conduct disorder
• Decreased executive function

Tylenol and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

The possible link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism has become clearer due to multiple scientific studies on infant cohorts across the world:

• 2015:  The Danish National Birth Cohort, established by the Danish National Research Foundation, published a study that included over 64,000 children and mothers. The researchers analyzed data and found that over 50% of children diagnosed with ASD and infantile autism were born to mothers who used acetaminophen during pregnancy.
• 2016:  Spanish researchers completed a study that included 2,644 mother-child pairs, over 40% of which used acetaminophen during pregnancy. The study found that prenatal acetaminophen exposure was associated with a greater number of autism spectrum symptoms and complex developmental disorder in male offspring and showed adverse effects on attention-related outcomes for both genders.

Tylenol and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Along with the discovery of Paracetamol’s link to increased rates of autism, studies also found that the drug’s use during pregnancy also resulted in higher rates of ADHD diagnosis.

As these research ventures are completed over years, ADHD symptoms begin to appear as the child grows older:

• 2015:  Using the Danish National Birth Cohort, UCLA and University of Aarhus researchers concluded a further link between Acetaminophen and ADHD.
• 2019:  Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the Office of Epidemiology and Research at the US Department of Health and Human Services published a study on 996 mother-infant pairs from the Boston Birth Cohort. They found that cord plasma biomarkers of fetal exposure to adult acetaminophen use and cord blood samples contained a significantly increased risk of ADHD and ASD.

Tylenol and Cerebral Palsy

Exposure to paracetamol and other painkillers in the womb may also lead to cerebral palsy, research shows:

• 2017:  Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Cerebral Palsy Register of Norway, Aarhus University, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, among others, published a study linking paracetamol use during pregnancy to a higher risk of cerebral palsy children.

Tylenol and Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder

Both oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder are behavioral conditions exhibited in children.

The neurobehavioral impacts of Tylenol on a child during pregnancy have been found to result in disorders such as these:

• 2014:  A long-term study from UCLA, University of Arizona, Novartis Farmaceutica SA (Barcelona), and the University of Aarhus concluded that acetaminophen use during pregnancy resulted in conduct problems and behavioral problems.
• 2018:  Researchers from the Netherlands found links between higher rates of oppositional-defiant disorder symptoms and paracetamol use during pregnancy.

About Tylenol and its Generic Equivalents

Tylenol, or acetaminophen (paracetamol), is one of the most popular over-the-counter medications for pain relief and fever in the world and is commonly used during pregnancy.

Tylenol is taken orally (pill) in a multitude of different dosage amounts depending on the intended use.

Used by millions of people, the drug is perceived as essentially harmless for the majority of the population.

The generic form of Tylenol is Acetaminophen, which is the name of the active ingredient.

Tylenol is different from pain medications like Ibuprofen, Advil, and Aspirin, which are classified as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).

Acetaminophen works to only reduce fever and relieve pain.

NSAIDs reduce fever, relieve pain, and also reduce inflammation, swelling, and irritation.

Will Generic Acetaminophen Be Included in the Lawsuit? 

If you took a generic version of Tylenol, acetaminophen, paracetamol, you may still qualify for a lawsuit.

Our legal team is investigating the details of the potential case against drug manufacturers and will let potential clients know when further information becomes available.

Is Tylenol Safe to Use During Pregnancy?

Tylenol has been widely considered safe by previous research, doctors, and healthcare professionals to be used during pregnancy, but new studies have shown risks associated with the medication.

Many public health authorities state that low doses of acetaminophen should not be withheld from pregnant women or children, as there are no alternatives for the medication despite the risks posed.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes drugs based on their relative safety for use by pregnant women.

The safest drugs are placed in Pregnancy Risk Category A, deeming no adverse risk to patients.

Acetaminophen is in Pregnancy Category B, which deems the drug “safe” for pregnant women, although “no adequate and well-controlled studies” have been performed on pregnant women using the drug.

Filing a Lawsuit

If you or a loved one’s child has been diagnosed with a neurological disorder such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), you may be eligible to file a claim.

There are a few key steps to follow in order to file a successful claim.

You must begin by gathering evidence, hiring a lawyer, and assessing damages.

Gathering Evidence for a Lawsuit

Evidence in a case involving neurological disorder caused by prenatal Tylenol, acetaminophen, or paracetamol exposure is crucial.

You must be able to prove that you took Tylenol or a generic equivalent during pregnancy and that your child was subsequently diagnosed with a neurological disorder related to documentary and scientific evidence.

Evidence may include:

• Medical records indicating Tylenol usage during pregnancy
• Receipts for purchase of Tylenol or Acetaminophen products
• Medical records indicating that your child was diagnosed with a related neurological disorder
• Any notes from doctors or healthcare professionals about Tylenol use during pregnancy

Hiring a Lawyer

After gathering information and evidence for your case, contact and hire an experienced attorney to handle your Tylenol lawsuit.

A lawyer will guide you through the civil lawsuit process and keep you informed at every step of the way.

Law firms that have handled mass tort cases before will understand the burdens you’ve dealt with and will lend a helping hand to secure rightful compensation.

Assessing Damages

Damages in a personal injury lawsuit refer to any and all monetary and non-monetary losses associated with your case.

In a Tylenol case, damages may include:

• Medical costs and bills
• Pain and suffering, mental health effects
• Lost wages or income
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Permanent disability

TruLaw: Investigating Tylenol Neurological Disorder Claims

Our legal team is currently investigating the claims made against Tylenol manufacturers, scientific research, and more to get a better understanding on how we can best help those who’ve suffered as a result of Johnson & Johnson’s negligence to inform the public of certain risks posed by their products.