Tylenol, a popular name-brand acetaminophen product, can be found in virtually any medicine cabinet or first aid kit. For decades, Tylenol and other generic painkillers containing acetaminophen were thought to be safe for use during pregnancy, but recent research has revealed that the use of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol and many other common pain medications) may increase the likelihood of children developing autism.
Following a batch of new research suggesting that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases the likelihood of neonatal autism, a class action has been filed on behalf of parents and caregivers of children who were diagnosed with autism after Tylenol use during the mother’s pregnancy.
A 2018 meta-analysis using the data of multiple research studies spanning over 100,000 pairs of mothers and children showed that children with prolonged exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy had a 20% higher likelihood of developing autism. In 2021, a group of scientists published a Consensus Statement in the scientific journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology stating that exposure to acetaminophen might alter fetal development.
There are currently lawsuits against Tylenol in all 50 states. As of this month, the case in New York will house all lawsuits filed in federal court. Lawsuits have also been filed against CVS, Walgreens, and manufacturers of acetaminophen-based medications.
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