{"id":2585,"date":"2023-02-03T12:26:58","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T12:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/?p=2585"},"modified":"2023-08-29T20:00:01","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T20:00:01","slug":"navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating the Risks of Tylenol in Pregnancy: Understanding the Connection to Autism and ADHD"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naheed Ali, MD, PhD<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnant women often take Tylenol, a brand name for the drug acetaminophen, to alleviate common pregnancy discomforts such as headaches, fever, and pain. However, a recent study has shown that taking Tylenol during pregnancy may increase the risk of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31664451\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">autism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31664451\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (ADHD) in children. In this article, we\u2019ll explore the research linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to these developmental disorders and discuss the potential implications for expectant mothers.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd\/#Overview_of_Tylenol\" title=\"Overview of Tylenol\">Overview of Tylenol<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd\/#Tylenol_under_scrutiny\" title=\"Tylenol under scrutiny\">Tylenol under scrutiny<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd\/#Results_from_the_Boston_Birth_Cohort\" title=\"Results from the Boston Birth Cohort\">Results from the Boston Birth Cohort<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd\/#How_does_Tylenol_increase_the_risk_of_autism_and_ADHD\" title=\"How does Tylenol increase the risk of autism and ADHD?\">How does Tylenol increase the risk of autism and ADHD?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd\/#Toward_a_safe_pregnancy_and_birth\" title=\"Toward a safe pregnancy and birth\">Toward a safe pregnancy and birth<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd\/#About_the_Author\" title=\"About the Author\">About the Author<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Overview_of_Tylenol\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overview of Tylenol<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34681816\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tylenol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a common over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is used for a number of ailments including headaches, aching muscles, cramping during menstruation, and the common cold. It works by blocking the production of certain body chemicals that are responsible for pain and inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a maximum daily dose of 4,000 milligrams per day for adults and 90 milligrams per kilogram per day for children. The FDA also requires that all OTC products containing acetaminophen have a warning on the label about the potential risk of liver damage from ingesting too much of the medication.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tylenol_under_scrutiny\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tylenol under scrutiny<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the lawsuits that have been filed against Tylenol are related to the marketing of the product. In 2020, the corporation behind Tylenol, Johnson &amp; Johnson, settled a lawsuit for $6.3 million for false packaging claims that bottles of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abcactionnews.com\/news\/national\/johnson-johnson-to-pay-6-3m-as-part-of-infants-tylenol-class-action-settlement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infant\u2019s Tylenol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were uniquely or specially formulated for infants when in truth, the bottles contained the same concentration as that of Children's Tylenol.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tylenol has also come under fire for its inclusion of titanium dioxide, among other potentially dangerous food coloring additives. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33669859\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Titanium dioxide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a whitening and opacifying agent, is a type of nanoparticle, meaning that it is extremely small. When consumed, these small particles may be able to penetrate cell membranes and enter the body's organs and tissues. It is also a potential <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35565075\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">carcinogen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, meaning it can cause the materialization of cancerous tumors within the body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More recently, Johnson &amp; Johnson has fallen under scrutiny for failing to warn against the risks of Tylenol use among pregnant women, especially those who are further along in their pregnancy. Numerous Tylenol cases for autism and ADHD have already been filed in the US, but as of yet, none of them have been amalgamated into a multidistrict litigation or a class action lawsuit.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Results_from_the_Boston_Birth_Cohort\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Results from the Boston Birth Cohort<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long-term research on mothers and their children has been conducted since 1998 as part of the Boston Birth Cohort. Conducted by the Boston University School of Public Health and the Boston Medical Center, the study aims to investigate the environmental and genetic factors that contribute to the development of chronic diseases in children. It enrolls pregnant women during their first prenatal visit and follows them and their children through pregnancy, childbirth, and early childhood. The study collects data on a wide array of factors that may affect child development, including maternal health, prenatal exposures, nutrition, and social and economic status.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The researchers collected blood samples from the umbilical cords of 996 babies at birth and measured the amount of acetaminophen and some of its byproducts in each sample. When the children were around 9 years old, it was found that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/news-releases\/nih-funded-study-suggests-acetaminophen-exposure-pregnancy-linked-higher-risk-adhd-autism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25.8%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of them had been diagnosed with ADHD, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/news-releases\/nih-funded-study-suggests-acetaminophen-exposure-pregnancy-linked-higher-risk-adhd-autism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6.6%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with autism, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/news-releases\/nih-funded-study-suggests-acetaminophen-exposure-pregnancy-linked-higher-risk-adhd-autism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4.2%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with both ADHD and autism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The researchers also found that children whose mothers had higher levels of acetaminophen in their blood during pregnancy were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD and autism. Specifically, the children whose mothers had the highest drug levels in their blood were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/news-releases\/nih-funded-study-suggests-acetaminophen-exposure-pregnancy-linked-higher-risk-adhd-autism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2.86 times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more likely to have ADHD and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/news-releases\/nih-funded-study-suggests-acetaminophen-exposure-pregnancy-linked-higher-risk-adhd-autism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3.62 times<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more likely to have autism, as compared to the children of the mothers who had the lowest levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_Tylenol_increase_the_risk_of_autism_and_ADHD\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How does Tylenol increase the risk of autism and ADHD?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mechanisms by which Tylenol may cause autism and ADHD are not fully understood. The studies that have suggested a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and these developmental disorders have demonstrated an association but failed to establish a cause-and-effect relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s believed that acetaminophen may affect the development of the brain and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29084830\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nervous system<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the unborn child. Some studies have suggested that acetaminophen may alter the levels of certain neurotransmitters, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8533963\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dopamine and serotonin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which play a role in brain development and behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acetaminophen is also known to have an effect on the body's <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5536672\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oxidative stress and inflammation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which may also play a role in the development of autism and ADHD. Some studies have suggested that acetaminophen may affect the development of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34556849\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cerebellum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a part of the brain widely acknowledged for motor coordination and balance, as well as social and emotional behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the lack of causal evidence, it's important for Tylenol's manufacturer to still warn against any potential risks because pregnant women are a vulnerable population and have unique medical needs. They have a responsibility to bestow accurate and up-to-date information about the safety of their products to protect the health of their consumers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this point, you may be wondering how a simple warning could have helped mothers. Had there been warnings about the potential risks associated with Tylenol use during pregnancy, expectant parents would have been able to arrive at informed decisions about whether or not to use the medication before pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women who want to refrain from using the medication could have consulted with their healthcare providers about alternative pain relief options that may be safer for them during pregnancy. For those who do choose to take the medication, these warnings would have made them aware of the potential risks linked to its usage and the steps they can take to minimize those risks, such as adhering to the recommended dosage and using the medication for only a certain point during their pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Toward_a_safe_pregnancy_and_birth\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toward a safe pregnancy and birth<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are a pregnant woman who is currently taking Tylenol, it is recommended that you consult with your healthcare provider about Tylenol use going forward. You may also inquire about other pain relief medications or methods that are more suited to your situation. Moreover, if you are a mother of a child who is diagnosed with autism or ADHD, and you believe that this might be due to Tylenol use during your pregnancy, we at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lawsuit Legit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may be able to help. Fill up the form on the right side of your screen to get a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pro bono<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> evaluation of your case.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_the_Author\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About the Author<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Ali is a medical journalist and copywriter at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/healthcarepropulsion.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HealthcarePropulsion.com<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Naheed Ali, MD, PhD Pregnant women often take Tylenol, a brand name for the drug acetaminophen, to alleviate common pregnancy discomforts such as headaches, fever, and pain. However, a recent study has shown that taking Tylenol during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. In this article, we\u2019ll&#8230; <a class=\"view-article\" href=\"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/navigating-the-risks-of-tylenol-in-pregnancy-understanding-the-connection-to-autism-and-adhd\/\">View Article<\/a>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[198,264],"tags":[267,268,266,265],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2585"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7141,"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585\/revisions\/7141"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawsuitlegit.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}