The State of Texas Top Legal Officer Files Lawsuit Against Tylenol Makers Over Autism Spectrum Allegations

Courtroom Action
The Texas Attorney General, a Trump ally seeking election to US Senate, accused the drug companies of hiding the risks of Tylenol

Texas Attorney General Paxton is taking legal action against the makers of acetaminophen, claiming the firms withheld potential risks that the pain reliever presented to pediatric cognitive development.

The court filing follows thirty days after Former President Trump promoted an unproven link between using acetaminophen - alternatively called acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism in offspring.

The attorney general is filing suit against the pharmaceutical giant, which previously sold the drug, the sole analgesic recommended for expectant mothers, and Kenvue, which presently makes it.

In a declaration, he said they "misled consumers by gaining financially from pain and marketing drugs ignoring the dangers."

The company states there is lacking scientific proof connecting acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.

"These manufacturers misled for generations, knowingly endangering countless individuals to boost earnings," Paxton, a Republican, said.

Kenvue said in a statement that it was "seriously troubled by the spread of false claims on the safety of paracetamol and the possible consequences that could have on the well-being of women and children in America."

On its online platform, the company also mentioned it had "consistently assessed the relevant science and there is no credible data that indicates a established connection between using acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."

Groups acting on behalf of physicians and health professionals share this view.

ACOG has stated paracetamol - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is among limited choices for expectant mothers to treat pain and elevated temperature, which can present major wellness concerns if ignored.

"In multiple decades of research on the consumption of paracetamol in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has definitively established that the consumption of acetaminophen in any period of gestation results in neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the organization said.

The lawsuit references current declarations from the Trump administration in arguing the medication is potentially dangerous.

Last month, the former president caused concern from health experts when he advised pregnant women to "fight like hell" not to consume acetaminophen when unwell.

The US Food and Drug Administration then published an announcement that doctors should think about restricting the usage of acetaminophen, while also declaring that "a proven link" between the drug and autism in minors has remains unverified.

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who manages the FDA, had promised in spring to conduct "extensive scientific investigation" that would determine the source of autism in a limited time.

But authorities cautioned that finding a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - considered by experts to be the result of a intricate combination of inherited and external influences - would not be simple.

Autism spectrum disorder is a category of permanent neurological difference and condition that influences how individuals perceive and interact with the surroundings, and is identified using doctors' observations.

In his court filing, the attorney general - a Trump ally who is running for federal office - claims the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "willfully ignored and attempted to silence the research" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.

This legal action attempts to require the firms "eliminate any promotional materials" that states Tylenol is safe for women during pregnancy.

The Texas lawsuit parallels the complaints of a group of guardians of young ones with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who filed suit against the makers of Tylenol in 2022.

The court rejected the lawsuit, stating studies from the parents' expert witnesses was lacking definitive proof.

Charles Davila
Charles Davila

Lena is a passionate linguist and educator based in Berlin, sharing her expertise in German language acquisition through engaging blog posts.