Our medical product liability attorneys are reviewing Tylenol autism claims. A federal class action lawsuit was certified in a New York district court on October 5, 2022. A class-action lawsuit is a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of a group of people or business entities who have suffered common injuries as a result of the defendants’ conduct.
Tylenol autism lawsuits are being filed around the country and is beginning to attract national attention.
Tylenol Marketed as Safe for Pregnant Women
Acetaminophen, also known Tylenol, is a widely used over-the-counter medications that has been used for decades. It’s also been touted by medical professions as the gold standard for safe pain relief during pregnancy. It has often been marketed as the only safe over-the-counter pain drug during pregnancy. 65% of pregnant women are estimated to have taken Tylenol during their pregnancies, that’s more than 2,300,000 women in 2021 alone.
Tylenol Autism Claims
Recent studies have tied the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy to children who develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), complex developmental disorder, and other health issues.
A Nature Reviews Endocrinology study called for “precautionary action” and “claimed that research suggests that prenatal exposure to APAP might alter fetal development, which could increase the risks of some neurodevelopmental, reproductive and urogenital disorders”.
A National Institutes of Health-funded study suggests acetaminophen exposure in pregnancy linked to higher risk of ADHD, autism.
A Johns Hopkins study looked at cord blood samples and measured acetaminophen levels. The results were astonishing. The highest levels of acetaminophen found in the cord blood were almost three times as likely to be on the autism spectrum compared to children with the lowest levels in their cord blood.
As of now, research has shown a relationship between Tylenol usage and the following:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Neurodevelopmental problems later in life
- IQ level deficits
- Behavioral issues
- Sleep problems
- Early puberty in girls
- Male fertility problems
- Undescended testicles
- Male urogenital malformations and disorders
The link between Tylenol and ASD is being studied more prominently. Partly due to the fact that ASD diagnoses are increasing at an alarming rate. An estimated 1 in 44 8-year-old children were diagnosed with ASD in 2018. In 2019, 8.8% of U.S. children were diagnosed with ADHD.
ASD isn’t often diagnosed until after the age of two. The most common symptoms of ASD that parents notice are:
- Delayed speech and ability to communicate
- The avoidance of eye contact
- Disproportionate or unexpected reactions to sounds, smell, touch, and taste (sensory processing difficulties)
- Minor changes to routine cause high levels of stress
- Very adherent to routines and rules
- Inability to understand social cues
With these issues, the impact on a person’s quality of life and ability to learn, develop relationships, and have a job can be significantly diminished based on the level of disability. Parents may deal with extreme emotional and financial distress while trying to care for their affected child. There may be an increase in doctor’s appointments, therapy, medication, and additional tutoring. A parent may miss work frequently or resolve to staying home and become a full-time caretaker. These costs could be eligible for compensation.
Who is eligible?
If you or a loved one have established acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy that resulted in a diagnosis of autism or ADHD, or any other related complication, you could qualify. Call us today for a free case evaluation at (888) 588-1695. The trial lawyers at Provost Umphrey Law Firm have decades of experience investigating and successfully trying medical product liability cases, and we’ll get to work for you.