Texas Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Tylenol Manufacturers Concerning Autism Claims

Judicial Proceedings
The Texas Attorney General, a Trump ally campaigning for US Senate, accused pharmaceutical manufacturers of hiding the risks of Tylenol

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the manufacturers of acetaminophen, alleging the companies concealed potential risks that the medication created to children's neurological development.

The lawsuit arrives a month after Former President Trump publicized an unverified association between consuming acetaminophen - alternatively called paracetamol - throughout gestation and autism in offspring.

Paxton is filing suit against the pharmaceutical giant, which once produced the medication, the exclusive pain medication recommended for pregnant women, and the current manufacturer, which now manufacturers it.

In a statement, he said they "betrayed America by making money from discomfort and pushing pills ignoring the potential hazards."

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

"These manufacturers misled for generations, intentionally threatening numerous people to line their pockets," Paxton, a Republican, said.

The manufacturer said in a statement that it was "very worried by the spread of false claims on the safety of paracetamol and the potential impact that could have on the health of women and children in America."

On its website, Kenvue also stated it had "regularly reviewed the pertinent research and there is lacking reliable evidence that shows a established connection between consuming acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."

Groups acting on behalf of medical professionals and healthcare providers concur.

ACOG has declared acetaminophen - the main ingredient in Tylenol - is one of the few options for pregnant women to manage pain and elevated temperature, which can pose serious health risks if ignored.

"In more than two decades of investigation on the use of paracetamol in pregnancy, no reliable research has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any period of gestation results in neurological conditions in offspring," the association said.

This legal action mentions latest statements from the Trump administration in claiming the drug is reportedly hazardous.

In recent weeks, the former president raised alarms from medical authorities when he told women during pregnancy to "fight like hell" not to take Tylenol when sick.

The FDA then published an announcement that physicians should consider limiting the consumption of acetaminophen, while also stating that "a proven link" between the medication and autism spectrum disorder in young ones has not been established.

The Health Department head Robert F Kennedy Jr, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration, had vowed in April to conduct "comprehensive study program" that would establish the origin of autism in a matter of months.

But specialists warned that discovering a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - considered by experts to be the consequence of a intricate combination of genetic and environmental factors - would not be simple.

Autism spectrum disorder is a type of permanent neurological difference and disability that influences how individuals experience and engage with the environment, and is diagnosed using doctors' observations.

In his legal document, the attorney general - a Trump ally who is seeking US Senate - alleges the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "intentionally overlooked and attempted to silence the science" around paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder.

The lawsuit aims to force the companies "eliminate any marketing or advertising" that states Tylenol is reliable for expectant mothers.

The court case parallels the concerns of a group of parents of minors with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD who filed suit against the producers of acetaminophen in 2022.

A federal judge dismissed the case, saying investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.

Lori Braun
Lori Braun

A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience in online casino reviews and player advocacy.