Tylenol & Autism

Recent studies have shown that women who use Tylenol or other pain relievers containing acetaminophen during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to a child that develops autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against pharmacies that sell acetaminophen on behalf of parents whose child was born with autism or ADHD.

If you or a loved one used acetaminophen during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with autism or ADHD, you may qualify to file a claim and receive compensation. To start your claim today, contact the lawyers at Hissey Mulderig & Friend by calling toll-free at 1-855-922-3660, or by filling out our free claims form to the right of this page.

Tylenol, Acetaminophen Linked to Autism & ADHD

Medical professionals have advised women for years to use Tylenol or acetaminophen during pregnancy instead of aspirin or other pain medications because it was thought to be safer. Several recent studies have found that if these medications are used by pregnant women for an extended period, it could increase their child’s risk of developing autism or ADHD.

When Tylenol or acetaminophen are ingested, the drugs are metabolized by the body into a chemical that causes oxidative stress. This chemical is then passed through the placenta to the fetus. Oxidative stress is believed to increase the risk for ASD and ADHD.

The first study linking Tylenol or acetaminophen to an increased risk of autism and ADHD was published by the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2018. The study found that when women used Tylenol or generic acetaminophen pain relievers for 28 days or more during pregnancy, there was a 20% increased risk their child would be born with autism, and a 30% increased risk that it would develope ADHD.

One year later, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that children whose mothers used Tylenol or acetaminophen were 2.14-3.62-times more likely to develop autism and 2.26-2.86-times more likely to develop ADHD.

In 2021, a study published by the European Journal of Epidemiology echoed these findings about the link between acetaminophen and Tylenol and an increased risk of autism or ADHD. Researchers found that the extended use of these pain relievers during pregnancy was linked to a 19% increased risk of autism and a 21% increased risk of ADHD.

Lawsuits Filed Over Acetaminophen, Tylenol and Autism or ADHD Link

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against pharmacies that sell Tylenol or acetaminophen on behalf of women who used these drugs during pregnancy and gave birth to a child that was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD. The lawsuits have alleged that these pharmacy chains – including Costco, CVS, Rite Aid, Safeway, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart – failed to properly warn mothers about the risk of autism or ADHD that their child could face if they used Tylenol or acetaminophen while pregnant.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated 18 of these lawsuits into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in October 2022. These 18 lawsuits include the cases of at least 48 children with autism or ADHD whose mothers took Tylenol or acetaminophen while pregnant. By combining these cases together, the Tylenol and acetaminophen MDL will help expedite the trial process and potentially make it easier for the parents of children with autism or ADHD to receive a settlement.

Lawyers involved in the acetaminophen or Tylenol MDL say that because of the widespread use of these pain relievers among pregnant women, they expect that tens to hundreds of thousands of cases will eventually be filed against companies that either manufactured or sold these products.

Start Your Claim Today

If you or a loved one used Tylenol or acetaminophen during pregnancy and your child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you may be eligible to file a claim and receive compensation.

To learn more about your legal option and to begin the process of filing a claim today, contact the attorneys at Hissey Mulderig & Friend by calling our office toll-free at 1-855-922-3660, or send us a message by filling out the free claims form located at the top of this page.