🔗 Share this article

Texas Attorney General Paxton is suing the makers of Tylenol, alleging the corporations hid safety concerns that the pain reliever presented to children's cognitive development.

The court filing follows four weeks after Donald Trump publicized an unsubstantiated connection between taking acetaminophen - referred to as acetaminophen - during pregnancy and autism in young ones.

The attorney general is filing suit against the pharmaceutical giant, which formerly manufactured the drug, the only pain reliever recommended for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which currently produces it.

In a declaration, he stated they "betrayed America by making money from discomfort and pushing pills without regard for the risks."

The company states there is no credible evidence connecting acetaminophen to autism.

"These manufacturers lied for decades, intentionally threatening countless individuals to line their pockets," the attorney general, a Republican, declared.

The manufacturer stated officially that it was "deeply concerned by the dissemination of inaccurate information on the security of acetaminophen and the possible consequences that could have on the welfare of women and children in America."

On its online platform, the company also said it had "consistently assessed the applicable studies and there is lacking reliable evidence that shows a proven link between taking acetaminophen and autism."

Groups representing medical professionals and medical practitioners share this view.

The leading OB-GYN organization has said paracetamol - the primary component in Tylenol - is a restricted selection for expectant mothers to manage discomfort and elevated temperature, which can create major wellness concerns if ignored.

"In multiple decades of studies on the consumption of acetaminophen in gestation, zero credible investigations has conclusively proven that the consumption of acetaminophen in any stage of pregnancy leads to brain development issues in offspring," the group stated.

This legal action cites latest statements from the Trump administration in claiming the medication is potentially dangerous.

In recent weeks, the former president caused concern from public health officials when he told expectant mothers to "resist strongly" not to consume acetaminophen when ill.

Federal regulators then released a statement that doctors should contemplate reducing the consumption of acetaminophen, while also mentioning that "a causal relationship" between the medication and autism in children has not been proven.

The Health Department head Kennedy, who manages the Food and Drug Administration, had promised in spring to undertake "comprehensive study program" that would establish the source of autism spectrum disorder in a short period.

But specialists cautioned that finding a single cause of autism - believed by scientists to be the outcome of a intricate combination of genetic and external influences - would not be simple.

Autism spectrum disorder is a category of lifelong neurodivergence and disability that affects how persons perceive and interact with the surroundings, and is diagnosed using doctors' observations.

In his legal document, the attorney general - a Trump ally who is seeking the Senate - claims the manufacturer and J&J "deliberately disregarded and attempted to silence the research" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.

This legal action attempts to require the companies "remove any commercial messaging" that states Tylenol is safe for expectant mothers.

This legal action parallels the complaints of a group of parents of minors with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who took legal action against the makers of acetaminophen in 2022.

A federal judge threw out the lawsuit, stating investigations from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.