Tylenol (generic) acetaminophen is a popular painkiller and fever medicine in the U.S. The drug is available over the counter at any grocery store or pharmacy.
Tylenol was previously believed to be safe for use during pregnancy. But an increasing body of evidence has connected the drug to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
So, can Tylenol cause autism? The simple answer is yes.
The use of Tylenol (or generic acetaminophen) among pregnant women has been the focus of more than 26 epidemiological studies. All these studies found a link between exposure to acetaminophen in utero and ASD or ADHD diagnosis.
A consensus declaration from ninety-one (91) experts published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology in September 2021 advised pregnant women to use acetaminophen with care.
However, the producers of Tylenol and other acetaminophen-containing medicines disregarded those findings and neglected to inform parents of the dangers to their unborn children. Instead, they have kept up the marketing of acetaminophen as a pregnancy-safe drug.
This article will explore the corpus of studies and recent findings tying Tylenol usage to ASD.
Medical Studies Linking Tylenol to Autism & ADHD
The consensus statement released in 2021 was a call to action since scholars couldn’t ignore the large body of evidence showing that acetaminophen use during pregnancy may result in ASD or ADHD.
According to the authors, the total weight of human and animal scientific data is substantial enough for health practitioners to advise pregnant women against its reckless use, both as a single drug and in tandem with other medications.
Despite the consistent correlation shown by research, Tylenol usage during pregnancy is a problem that hasn’t received adequate attention.
This may be attributed to the anti-vaccine movement and the debunked and discredited evidence supporting the vaccine-autism connection.
The associated stigma has likely led to a lack of awareness of the risk posed by regular acetaminophen use during pregnancy.
Prenatal use of Tylenol Regularly Through Pregnancy Poses a Large Risk
So, can Tylenol cause autism? Yes, it can.
The writers of the consensus statement contend that acetaminophen usage or exposure during pregnancy and the early postpartum period can have a detrimental effect on fetal brain development.
The authors argue that in line with the epidemiological data, research reveals that the most potent effects of prolonged use and exposure occur during the start of the third trimester of pregnancy and around delivery time in humans.
According to the authors, society should take preventative action whenever scientific data suggests a chemical is of concern and not wait for definitive proof that a chemical harms our children.
Proof of neurodevelopmental toxicity of any kind, whether it be epidemiological, toxicological, or mechanistic, should be enough to establish priorities and prompt some action.
Yet again, the adverse effects of acetaminophen on prenatal brain development are the primary cause of concern among researchers.
Tylenol and autism have been linked medically for a decade, and the link between the two conditions and child development can no longer be disregarded.
European Journal of Epidemiology (2021)
Researchers evaluated data on 73,881 children from six prior birth cohort studies. The results of the analyzed studies showed that there was a statistically significant increase in ADHD and ASD diagnoses in children exposed to Tylenol/acetaminophen during pregnancy.
This study demonstrated a relationship between using acetaminophen during pregnancy and a child’s likelihood of being diagnosed with ADHD or an autistic spectrum disease. The use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is linked to autism, according to yet another research.
Johns Hopkins University Boston Birth Cohort (2019)
Results in a 2019 study by JAMA Psychiatry suggest that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen was related to a considerably higher risk of ASD and ADHD in a “dose response pattern” in cord biomarkers (umbilical cord blood samples).
In other words, the incidence rate of ASD or ADHD diagnosis increases directly to the quantity of acetaminophen detected in umbilical cord blood tests.
This is referred to as the Johns Hopkins University Boston Birth Cohort study. The study strengthens the argument that regular Tylenol usage while pregnant might have adverse effects due to exposure to a higher dosage.
At the very least, the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health study showed acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy increases a child’s risk for neurodevelopmental problems, including ASD and ADHD.
The scientists for acetaminophen biomarkers analyzed the umbilical cord blood specimen from 996 infants.
Furthermore, despite the many confounding variables such as preterm delivery, alcohol misuse, smoking, maternal stresses, and maternal BMI, researchers discovered a consistent link between acetaminophen identified in biomarkers of cord blood samples and ADHD and ASD.
Acetaminophen Use in Pregnancy and Neurodevelopment (2016)
Another 2016 study examined 2644 mother-child pairs and published the results in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
The researchers looked at children between the ages of one and five to evaluate if acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy increased the chance of ASD or ADHD.
They found a direct link between Tylenol usage during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism.
Danish National Birth Cohort Study (2015)
Researchers examined 64,322 mom-child pairs to learn more about the origins of pediatric illnesses.
They discovered that acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy hurt fetal brain development and was associated with a considerable increase in the diagnosis of ASD and ADHD.
Another study reviewed the Danish National Birth Cohort Study between 1996 and 2002. Researchers again discovered a surge in hyperkinetic disorder (abnormal involuntary movements) and ADHD following prenatal exposure to Tylenol/acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen Exposure and Fetal Brain Development
The Yale University School of Public Health also published the findings reaffirmed by 91 scientists in the abovementioned consensus statement.
Professor Zeyan Liew of Yale University School of Public Health claims that Yale’s lab was one of the very first to document the harmful effects of acetaminophen exposure and usage during pregnancy on fetal brain development.
It is important to note that in reaching their results, the consensus statement authors previously relied on 25 years’ worth of epidemiological, animal, and in vitro studies.
The researchers discovered a higher likelihood of neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD, ADHD, low IQ, and language difficulties.
Acetaminophen has been demonstrated to pass through the placental barrier. It is hypothesized that this will change the mother’s hormone levels and negatively affect the growth of the fetus’s brain.
2022 Animal Study of Tylenol Use and Fetal Brain Development
In the study ‘Paracetamol (acetaminophen) and its Effect on the Developing Mouse Brain,’ scholars observed that mice exposed to significant acetaminophen doses (meant to imitate regular use of Tylenol instead of simply infrequent use) demonstrated decreased memory and learning ability, as well as other indications of neurodevelopmental disorders.
According to the researchers, Tylenol causes oxidative stress in the hippocampus, which probably significantly influences how neurodevelopmental problems arise. This finding is consistent with many animal studies.
It is yet unclear if pregnant women will have access to painkillers in the future. Among all painkillers, Tylenol has long been regarded as safe for pregnant women to use.
For the protection of expectant mothers and their unborn infants, it is evident that more research in this area is necessary. However, there is an increased risk for neurodevelopmental problems, including autism, in pregnant women who take acetaminophen products.
The results unequivocally show that genetics and environmental exposure in utero and throughout pregnancy increase a child’s risk of developing autism.
Please keep in mind that we are NOT saying that Tylenol causes autism. Instead, we think there is a higher chance of a child developing ASD if pregnant women regularly use Tylenol throughout pregnancy. Instead of being “the cause,” we believe it is a cause.”
Makers Of Acetaminophen Products Have Misled Parents
Any company that manufactures medication has a moral and legal duty to assure its goods’ safety and respond quickly if that safety is challenged.
However, Tylenol and other acetaminophen product manufacturers have disregarded the mounting evidence linking their products’ prenatal use to autism and ADHD. That violates the confidence of individuals who trusted them when they stated their goods were safe.
As a result, lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson (the company that makes Tylenol) and generic acetaminophen manufacturers such as Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, CVS, and others that failed to offer adequate warnings regarding the risks of using the medication while pregnant are being filed in court.
If you think you may be affected, you should speak with a personal injury attorney immediately so they can assess your case and assist you through the subsequent steps.
Get Help Filing a Tylenol Autism Lawsuit Today!
Did you take acetaminophen while pregnant, and your kid was eventually diagnosed with ASD or ADHD? If yes, you could be eligible to join the rising number of plaintiffs suing Johnson & Johnson and producers of generic acetaminophen for damages.
At Legal Giant, we believe in holding product manufacturers accountable when they negligently disregard evidence that their products are unsafe.
We can link you with the best personal injury lawyer who will work tirelessly in your best interests so that you can get closure and compensation.
Our partner attorneys have years of experience dealing with product liability lawsuits and will do everything to get you a fair payout.
Contact us for a free case evaluation today.
