Pregnancy can be complicated on a woman’s body. As the body changes to make room for a new baby, body aches and cramps are sure to accompany it. Doctors typically advise pregnant women to take acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) to reduce fever and manage pain. However, recent studies have shown a link between autism and acetaminophen that makes some women think twice about taking medications like Tylenol and NyQuil. So, is acetaminophen linked to autism?

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is one of the most popular over-the-counter medications for pain and fever relief. However, research has shown an increased risk of the following:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

In addition, several other developmental disorders can develop in children exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy. People For Law brings you all the information you need to know about these types of lawsuits, as well as the best mass tort attorneys in the state to assist you with your claim. Schedule a no-obligation consultation for a Tylenol class action lawsuit today.

What is Autism?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.” People with ASD often have difficulty communicating and interacting with other people. They also have symptoms that affect their functioning in school, work, and other areas of their life. ASD affects all genders, races, ethnicities, and economic levels. Most children can be diagnosed with ASD by the age of two.

What is Acetaminophen?

Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, is a pain reliever and fever reducer. It is used to treat mild to severe aches and pains, such as headaches, backaches, muscle aches, cramps, and mild arthritis pain. Doctors generally advise pregnant women that acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever because it is not an NSAID or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which is known to cause congenital disabilities. Although doctors say acetaminophen is safe in small amounts, recent studies have shown that there may be a link between acetaminophen and autism and ADHD.

How Does Acetaminophen Work?

Acetaminophen is an analgesic and antipyretic. This means that it reduces pain and fever by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, prostacyclins, and thromboxanes. Although the exact mechanism of inhibition is not known, it is known that it can increase the pain threshold.

Acetaminophen acts on the brain’s heat regulation center to reduce fever. When the body temperature rises, acetaminophen tells the body to lower the temperature, breaking the fever.

It is also known that high doses of acetaminophen can be hepatotoxic.

In Which Other Medications Is Acetaminophen Found?

Acetaminophen is a widespread drug, and many different brands of medications use it as an active ingredient. Some of them are:

• Tylenol
• NyQuil
• DayQuil
• Excedrin
• Mucinex
• Percocet
• Vicodin

Is Acetaminophen Linked to Autism?

While there are many studies on this topic, two main studies suggest that acetaminophen is linked to autism and supports Tylenol class action lawsuits. The first was conducted by researchers at the John Hopkins Bloomberg Public School of Health, and the other was conducted by researchers at the University of Barcelona.

John Hopkins University Study

This study, conducted by Dr. Xiaobing Wang and colleagues, was published in 2019 in JAMA Psychiatry. In the study, researchers analyzed data from the Boston Birth Cohort. They collected blood from the umbilical cords of 996 births and measured the levels of acetaminophen and its derivatives. When all the children were around nine years old, the researchers found that 25.8% had been diagnosed with ADHD, 6.6% had been diagnosed with ASD, and 4.2% had been diagnosed with both ADHD and ASD.

The blood samples were divided into three groups based on the amount of paracetamol they contained. Compared to the group with the lowest amount, the group with the second-highest amount of acetaminophen was 2.14 times more likely to have ASD, while the group with the highest amount was 3.62 times more likely to have ASD.

The researchers concluded that their research supports the idea that paracetamol is linked to autism. However, they also acknowledged the limitations of this study and called for more research to be done.

The University of Barcelona Study

Published in May 2021, this study details what researchers from the University of Barcelona found in their analysis of more than 73,000 mother-child pairs across Europe. The researchers asked mothers through interviews and questionnaires whether they had taken paracetamol during pregnancy. They found that unborn children exposed to paracetamol in the womb were 19% more likely to have ASD.

Ultimately, the researchers in this study acknowledged that acetaminophen is linked to autism. However, like the other study, the researchers made sure to note the limitations of the study and called for more research to be done. Additionally, they pointed out that the symptoms that led mothers to take acetaminophen (to reduce pain or fever) could play a role in the development of ASD.

Does Acetaminophen Cause Autism?

Most studies seeking to answer this question, such as the two mentioned above, have not been able to say that acetaminophen causes autism. Many point to a link between the two, leading to the filing of Tylenol class action lawsuits over this. However, more research is also needed to understand this better. Correlation does not always equal causation—in other words, just because two things are linked does not mean that one thing is the cause of the other.

Many doctors continue to recommend that taking small doses of acetaminophen is safer than letting a fever go untreated. If you are concerned that acetaminophen causes autism, the best thing to do is ask your healthcare provider or a Tylenol mass tort attorney so they can explain the risks involved.

People For Law Can Help

If you have suffered a drug-induced illness, you need an experienced mass tort attorney on your side, and we can help. Our attorneys are experts in dealing with mass tort lawsuits and have the experience and professionalism you need. We want to help our clients get the justice they deserve. Contact us today and schedule your consultation. If you have more questions about Tylenol claims, you can learn more on our blog.