Being a parent is hard. Each of the decisions you make will have some effect on your child’s life. Your influence on your child’s well-being begins far before birth. Even the medicines you take during pregnancy can impact your child’s social and physical development. Ask the experts, and you’ll uncover a list of foods and medications unsafe during pregnancy. Even everyday medications, like Tylenol, may carry risks.
In this guide, we’ll review some of the most recent research findings, including your legal options if you believe your child developed Autism or ADHD after using acetaminophen.
Do Studies Show a Potential Link?
A few studies show a potential link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and an increased chance of a child developing ASD or ADHD. Researchers followed a large cohort of pregnant women and measured their habits during pregnancy, including medication use. They then tracked the child’s development while considering disorders like ASD or ADHD.
The results found that approximately 25.8% of parents who used Tylenol during pregnancy had children who were later diagnosed with ADHD and 6.6% with ASD. A different study in 2018 estimated that when the mother uses Tylenol during pregnancy, it may increase the risk of autism by 20% and ADHD by 30%. While the exact percentages vary depending on the study, many do show a potential link.
What Is Autism?
Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a type of neurodevelopmental disorder that mostly impacts a person’s social and developmental skills, often including difficulties interacting or communicating. Some symptoms of ASD may include:
- Delayed language and movement skills
- Delayed cognitive abilities
- Difficulty learning
- Difficulty adjusting to changes
- Nontraditional mood or social reactions
The symptoms of autism are usually recognized early in a child’s life. The specific symptoms and impact of autism depend on where a child’s developmental disability falls into the spectrum.
What Is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that often affects a child’s social skills. ADHD is sometimes diagnosed early, usually due to difficulties in school. For some, though, a diagnosis may not come until adulthood. ADHD may include:
- Difficulty controlling impulsive behaviors
- Inability to pay attention
- Short attention span and easy distractibility
- Difficulty completing tasks
- Frequent urge to move or get up during times of quiet
The exact number of children with ADHD may be difficult to calculate since ADHD is sometimes wrongly diagnosed as attention deficit disorder (ADD), anxiety, or normal childhood behaviors. Some of these disorders, especially ADD, share similar symptoms.
Is Tylenol Safe During Pregnancy?
Tylenol may be one of the safest pain medications available during pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any risks involved. In fact, due to recent research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends extra caution before using Tylenol while pregnant. This warning may confuse some since the FDA previously ruled the potential correlation between Tylenol and ASD and ADHD inconclusive in 2015. Since then, however, new research shows a higher likeliness of a connection.
Tylenol is usually considered a safer and better alternative to other medications, but parents argue that they should have been warned of the risks. Additionally, women with chronic medical conditions, like migraines, may want to try alternative options to ensure a safe pregnancy.
Your Legal Options Following an ASD or ADHD Diagnosis
Many parents have come forward to file a lawsuit after their child was diagnosed with ASD or ADHD. These parents argue the manufacturer didn’t warn them of the potential risks properly. While the Tylenol label does warn all users to check with their physician before use, it doesn’t specifically outline the risks of prenatal use leading to ASD or ADHD. If you used Tylenol during pregnancy and now have a child who has been diagnosed with ASD or ADHD, you may be eligible to file an Acetaminophen autism ADHD lawsuit.
Laws require medication suppliers to notify you of all potential risks. If you took Tylenol during pregnancy and your child was diagnosed with ASD or ADHD, it may be worth filing a lawsuit. While a lawsuit won’t take away your child’s disorder, it may help you cover some of the incurred costs and access necessary resources.
Early research shows that there may be a connection between using Tylenol during pregnancy and the child later developing ASD or ADHD. This evidence has led to many parents filing a lawsuit in local and federal courts. If you believe your child developed ASD or ADHD due to Tylenol use during pregnancy, you might consider talking with a lawyer.
