Health professionals warn that pregnant women should avoid taking medication or supplements without consulting their doctors. However, Tylenol has been considered a safer pain reliever option during pregnancy for many years. Unfortunately, scientific research has identified a link between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and certain developmental disorders, particularly autism and ADHD. This is currently the basis for several lawsuits targeting Tylenol’s manufacturers and retailers.
Our Tylenol Autism Lawsuit Attorneys are committed to seeking justice for injury victims and those exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy.
Does Tylenol Cause Children to Develop Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Recent studies suggest that acetaminophen exposure in pregnant women may contribute to an increased risk of having a baby with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or other developmental disorders. The plaintiffs in these claims maintain that the manufacturers and distributors of these products have a responsibility to warn consumers about the potential health risks.
Our mass tort lawyers are now reviewing Tylenol autism lawsuits to seek compensation for families affected by prenatal acetaminophen exposure. If you or a loved one developed autism spectrum disorder following in-utero exposure to acetaminophen, help is available. The Tylenol autism lawyers at our law firm can help you determine your legal options.
Tylenol and Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Research
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a pain reliever commonly used to reduce fever and mild to moderate pain. Estimates show that 65% of pregnant women in the United States use acetaminophen while pregnant.
Although this pain relief drug is generally considered safe, fetuses are particularly vulnerable to chemically active substances' impact on their development.
Currently, the scientific community is amassing more and more evidence that suggests a strong link between Tylenol and generic acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy and an increased risk that the child will develop autism spectrum disorder or another developmental disorder. A 2018 study conducted among 132,738 mother and child pairs over several years indicated a 20% increased risk of autism and a 30% higher risk of ADHD after prolonged exposure to the drug. Potential adverse outcomes of acetaminophen use during pregnancy include:
Hormonal and genital abnormalities
The active ingredient in Tylenol is considered an endocrine disruptor, meaning that it can interfere with normal hormonal processes involved in healthy development. Research suggests that depleted hormones can lead to unexpected consequences in babies who received prenatal exposure to Tylenol or generic acetaminophen. These include genital deformities at birth, low sperm count in boys, or early puberty in girls.
Lowered IQ and behavioral issues
Research has found that acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy seems to correlate with a lower IQ score in young children. Research has also linked Tylenol exposure in pregnant women to greater social difficulties, such as emotional and conduct problems, in their children.
Autism spectrum disorder and ADHD
Multiple studies now draw a connection between Tylenol, autism, ADHD, and the propensity to develop one or more of these conditions following fetal exposure. In data from the Boston Birth Cohort study, cord blood samples revealed a correlation between Tylenol usage and neurological disorders. Doctors diagnosed 25.8% of children who were exposed to the drug with ADHD, and 6.6% with an autism spectrum disorder.
The Long-Term Effects of Tylenol Use During Pregnancy
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental disorder that can affect one's ability to learn, socialize, and work. These issues can affect both the person with ASD and the family or caregivers, often at a steep economic cost. Your child may have specialized medical or psychiatric needs and regular visits to see healthcare practitioners or therapists. A child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder may need routine special care that requires a parent to put aside other duties or job opportunities to meet their needs. School-age children with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may require special tutoring to advance. They may also need therapy and medication to address these conditions' emotional difficulties.
In addition to ASD symptoms, autism spectrum disorder can also bring about a higher incidence of co-morbidity with anxiety, depression, and certain neurological disorders. In some instances, the severity of the condition may cause the affected person to require lifelong care.
Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder may include:
- Difficulty with social skills
- Delayed language skills
- Understanding expectations in school or the workplace
- Unusual mood changes or emotional reactions
Symptoms of ADHD may include:
- Hyperactivity
- Difficulty organizing or concentrating
- Excessive physical movement or fidgeting
- Increased risk-taking
These factors can all bring increased stress and economic strain to a family. The associated costs brought on by caring for someone with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD may recover compensation in an autism ADHD lawsuit if you can establish a connection to acetaminophen use during pregnancy. Our experienced mass tort lawyers can strengthen your claim for financial compensation.
How Do You Prove Tylenol Use During Pregnancy?
Your attorney can garner as much medical evidence as your case needs. Usually, this will involve requesting copies of medical records from the time of the pregnancy. Additional information, such as receipts and purchase history, can also confirm prolonged exposure to Tylenol.
How Much Can You Recover in a Tylenol Autism Lawsuit?
Projected settlement values in Tylenol autism lawsuits are still being analyzed and reviewed according to the relevant data available and the estimates of other prior mass tort cases. Individual values will depend on the severity of the autism. ASD 1 is the least severe manifestation of the disorder, and ASD is the most severe. Our early settlement projections predicted a value of $150,000 to $225,000 for ASD level 1 claims, $250,000 to $500,000 for ASD level 2 claims, and in excess of $500,000 for typical ASD level 3 claims in acetaminophen autism lawsuits.
Your potential settlement amount will vary depending on the amount of your economic and non-economic damages. They may include pain and suffering, lost wages, or medical expenses, among others. Your attorney can work with you to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation available and create a strategy that will strengthen your claim.
Is There a Class Action Lawsuit Against Tylenol?
Not yet. As of October 2022, mass tort litigation has targeted retailers of Tylenol and generic acetaminophen, such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Costco, and Rite Aid. However, this motion has not named any of the drug's manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, who distribute it under the brand name Tylenol.
Generally, drug manufacturers don’t like to settle out of court. Commercial retailers prefer to settle rather than litigate in court and damage their public reputations.
Reviewing Tylenol Autism Lawsuits in a Multidistrict Litigation Process
A multidistrict litigation lawsuit aims to consolidate multiple claims across various districts into a mass tort lawsuit overseen in one jurisdiction. In October 2022, a panel of judges made the order to centralize numerous Tylenol autism and ADHD lawsuit actions brought up across the country into a multidistrict lawsuit before the Honorable Judge Denise L. Cote in the Southern District of New York. This is expected to set in motion cases that could recover millions of dollars of compensation for individuals who can demonstrate that prenatal exposure to Tylenol caused their autism or ADHD diagnosis.
The attorneys representing injured parties will argue that the fabricators and distributors of generic acetaminophen and Tylenol acted negligently by failing to warn pregnant women and their unborn children about the dangers of their drugs.
We believe that in light of scientific research, consumers have a right to fair compensation for the damages caused by these drug manufacturers. Furthermore, we believe these manufacturers have ignored salient advice from health professionals who warned them about the connection between Tylenol and autism.
Our law firm can assess your potentially compensable damages and help determine the value of your claim against Tylenol’s manufacturers.
Tylenol Autism Lawyers You Can Trust
We understand that the pain and suffering brought about by a common household pain reliever may overwhelm and confuse anyone. ADHD and autism spectrum disorder are often difficult to diagnose in the early stages of life, meaning that you may have endured years of increased hardship without knowing that you could link the cause back to acetaminophen during pregnancy.
If prenatal Tylenol use injured you or someone you love, know that you can seek reparations. Our law firm is committed to standing up for the rights of injury victims. We have the expertise to navigate the most complex cases and the resources to take on the pharmaceutical giants responsible for your losses.
We have recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for our clients and aim to continue doing so for families affected by the ill health effects of Tylenol and generic acetaminophen. Our law firm was one of the first to investigate Tylenol lawsuits and believes that the studies linking acetaminophen during pregnancy to autism diagnoses cannot be ignored. Your right to recover a fair settlement for the damages brought upon by this negligent dismissal of scientific research is our priority.
How Our Mass Tort Attorneys Can Fight for Your Right to Compensation
Our experienced mass tort attorneys can provide assistance during every stage of your Tylenol lawsuit. Our legal team can gather evidence, build your case, and develop a strategy around your claim that works to get you maximum compensation.
With our skilled lawyers fighting for you, you may receive compensation for economic and non-economic damages due to Tylenol or generic acetaminophen exposure, including:
- Medical expenses and ongoing treatment costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Lost wages or income
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
We are committed to ensuring that our clients can pursue the recourse that will benefit them emotionally and financially. Throughout the lifecycle of your case, we will do our utmost to ensure that you understand your options, answer your questions, and feel that you can depend on us to guide you through the legal process.
Reach out to Our Mass Tort Law Firm for Your Tylenol Autism Lawsuit
Our attorneys are committed to seeking justice for injury victims and those exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy. We remain steadfast in our research of the scientific evidence linking Tylenol and generic acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorders and ADHD and the legal claims surrounding this information. Our lawyers are prepared to fight for compensation and justice for injured parties in these autism and ADHD lawsuits with every resource available to us.
If you or someone you love was harmed by one of these neurodevelopmental disorders after prenatal exposure to Tylenol, we implore you to reach out to us for a free consultation and case review.