Did Taking Tylenol While Pregnant Change Your Child’s Life?
If you used Tylenol or acetaminophen while pregnant and your child was later diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD, you may be entitled to financial compensation, and we’re here to help you find out.
Research has been building for years, and the government is now taking notice. Studies have concluded that acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy is associated with a 20–30% increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD and autism. Children with the highest levels of prenatal acetaminophen exposure were more than twice as likely to receive an autism or ADHD diagnosis.
In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued new guidance recommending stronger warnings on all medications containing acetaminophen, marking the first time a major federal health agency formally acknowledged that prenatal acetaminophen exposure may pose neurodevelopmental risks to unborn children. The FDA has also been directed to update safety labels and notify physicians.
Autism Spectrum Disorder can affect children in a range of ways, including:
- Delayed language, movement, or learning skills
- Hyperactive, impulsive, or inattentive behavior
- Epilepsy or seizure disorder
- Gastrointestinal issues such as constipation
- Unusual eating, sleeping, or emotional patterns
- Anxiety, excessive worry, or unexpected fear responses
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APAP and Autism: The Evidence
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.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first study to associate the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy with an increased risk of ASD. In 2018, a metanalysis of seven studies involving 132,178 pairs of mothers and children suggested excessive use of acetaminophen during pregnancy increased a child’s risk of autism by 20%.
Another study involving samples of umbilical blood obtained from 996 mother-child pairs found that children exposed to higher acetaminophen levels were up to 3.62 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism.
APAP and Pregnancy: Is it Safe?
Almost everyone has APAP (acetaminophen) like Tylenol or another brand in their medicine cabinet. Estimates suggest that up to 70% of pregnant women use some form of acetaminophen during pregnancy.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has placed acetaminophen in Pregnancy Category B, reserved for drugs that have not shown a fetal risk. However, 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.”
What to Know About Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASD currently affects about 1 in 59 children. While the incidence is rising, it’s unclear if this results from increased diagnosis or increased occurrence.
Because people with autism are said to “on the spectrum,” an individual child may exhibit various symptoms that range from mild to severe. Some of the most common ASD symptoms include:
Lack of Social Skills
Children with autism have a hard time interacting with others. Those on the spectrum usually begin exhibiting social symptoms by the time they’re 8 to 10 months old.
Communications Problems
About 40% of kids with autism don’t talk at all. Between 25% and 30% develop some language skills in infancy but lose them later, and others don’t begin talking until later in life.
Patterns of Behavior
Many children with autism behave in ways that seem unusual or have unusual interests.
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If you or a loved one have suffered from adverse effects from taking tylenol, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
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