Estimates suggest that up to 70% of pregnant women use some form of acetaminophen during pregnancy.

The FDA has placed acetaminophen in Pregnancy Category B, reserved for drugs that have not shown a fetal risk. Pregnancy Category B drugs have not been subject to controlled studies in pregnant women, or they have been shown to have adverse effects (other than a decrease in fertility) in animal reproduction studies that were not confirmed in controlled studies of women in the first trimester of pregnancy.

There are currently no pain relievers included in Pregnancy Risk Category A, which is reserved for medications that have been deemed completely “safe.”

In a 2018 study, researchers did a meta-analysis of seven studies involving 132,738 pairs of mothers and children.

People were followed for periods ranging from three to 11 years, depending on the study, using questionnaires, interviews, and self-reports on medication use. The analysis revealed a 20% higher risk of autism and a 30% higher risk of ADHD for children who had prolonged exposure to acetaminophen in the womb. However, it noted that taking small amounts of acetaminophen during pregnancy — in one study, for fewer than eight days — didn’t increase risks.

Other studies since then have supported earlier findings that too much acetaminophen may increase one’s risk for autism and ADHD.

In May 2021, a study conducted by researchers in Spain suggested using acetaminophen during pregnancy might increase the risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The authors analyzed medical records involving more than 73,000 mother-child pairs across Europe, finding that kids exposed to acetaminophen in-utero were 19% more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than those who weren’t.

While the findings are not definitive proof of a causal relationship between Tylenol and autism, the authors called for more study of the issue. They also recommended that acetaminophen be used in pregnancy “only when necessary.”

If you or a loved one regularly used Tylenol while pregnant and gave birth to a child diagnosed with:

• Autism

You may be entitled to significant compensation from the manufacturer.

There are time deadlines to file a claim so don’t wait – act now.