Did you take acetaminophen during pregnancy? Was your child later diagnosed with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”)? Recent medical and scientific literature has connected the use of Tylenol and other products containing acetaminophen during pregnancy to the development of autism and ADHD. However, the manufacturers of these medications failed to disclose this information to mothers, preventing them from making an informed decision about whether to take the drug.
If you took Tylenol or any other medication containing acetaminophen during pregnancy and your child was subsequently diagnosed with autism or ADHD, you may be entitled to compensation through a defective drug lawsuit. These claims can not only connect your family with meaningful compensation but also send a message to pharmaceutical companies that they cannot develop and market drugs that are known to cause harm. At the personal injury law firm of Console & Associates, P.C., we understand the difficulties you and your family have faced and will continue to face, and want to help. Our team of acetaminophen lawyers is actively investigating product liability claims against the manufacturers of these drugs. As a part of our investigation, we are offering free consultations to parents of children born with ADHD or autism whose mothers took acetaminophen during pregnancy. We can help you understand your rights and explain your legal options regarding a Tylenol autism class action lawsuit.
There has long been a known relationship between aspirin and Reye’s syndrome, a serious condition causing swelling in the brain and liver damage. Multiple studies confirmed that women who took NSAIDs and opioid medication were more likely to have babies with certain congenital disabilities than those who took Acetaminophen. Thus, health professionals began recommending many patients take acetaminophen as an acceptable alternative for pregnant women seeking relief from minor pain.
However, as researchers continue to look into the effects of Acetaminophen on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism, many are calling into question the safety and efficacy of this common pain killer, suggesting it may not be a safer alternative after all.
For example, recent studies suggest that unborn babies who had prolonged exposure to Acetaminophen in the womb are at a higher risk of developing autism and ADHD. However, because this research is still in its early stages, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet made a formal recommendation regarding the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy.
That said, the current research puts the manufacturers of acetaminophen-containing products on notice that there is a possible link between the drug and ADHD / autism.
We are here to help.
Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly taken over-the-counter drugs in the United States. A significant number of prescription medications also contain acetaminophen. In all, there are more than 600 medications that contain acetaminophen. Many of these medications are common household names, such as:
If you took any of these medications, or another product containing acetaminophen, your child may have been unknowingly exposed to an increased risk of ADHD or autism. Of course, had you been told that there was a link between acetaminophen and these lifelong conditions, you would have been able to at least make an informed decision about the risks and benefits of taking the drug. Unfortunately, the manufacturers of these products failed to disclose the link between products containing acetaminophen and autism/ADHD.
“Babies born to women who used Acetaminophen were 13 to 37% more likely to be diagnosed with a hyperactive disorder…” Yes, there are multiple studies that report finding a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD or autism in children.
For example, a 2014 University of California, Los Angeles study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that babies born to women who used Acetaminophen were 13 to 37% more likely to be diagnosed with a hyperactive disorder, be treated with ADHD medications, or exhibit ADHD behaviors.
Additionally, a 2017 study published in the Journal of Internal Medical Research Study conducted by researchers at Duke University Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Colorado, Boulder, found that autism can be caused by an acetaminophen-induced brain injury.
Most recently, a 2019 study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that children whose cord blood contained high levels of Acetaminophen were at 3.5 times greater risk of being diagnosed with autism when compared to children with low levels of acetaminophen in their cord blood. Additionally, the same study found that children with the highest levels of Acetaminophen were almost three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.
Research into the connection between Tylenol and other products that contain acetaminophen and autism/ADHD exists, but it is still in its early phases. However, even at this point, there appears to be a legal basis for parents of children who were exposed to acetaminophen in utero to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturers. In fact, currently, there are approximately 19 acetaminophen-injury lawsuits nationwide, each raising similar claims that pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies failed to warn consumers about the risks of prenatal exposure to Acetaminophen.
If you took Tylenol or any other medication containing acetaminophen during pregnancy and gave birth to a child that was born who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism, we understand your frustration and grief. However, given the recent medical research and legal developments in Tylenol autism and ADHD lawsuits, now is the time to act to hold these drug manufacturers accountable—both for your family as well as for society as a whole. At Console & Associates, P.C., we can help your family pursue justice for everything you’ve been through. If you are interested in learning more about pursuing a Tylenol ADHD lawsuit or Tylenol autism lawsuit against the giant manufacturers who sold these products, reach out to an experienced product liability attorney at Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. We are here for you. We will answer your questions and offer you guidance about how you may be able to pursue a claim against the parties responsible for your child’s condition.
