According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, acetaminophen is the most common drug ingredient in the United States. First sold as an ingredient in a combination drug that also featured aspirin and caffeine, acetaminophen has since exploded in popularity, with over 600 medications now containing the drug.
Approximately 52 million Americans take acetaminophen in some form each day. However, a growing body of research data shows that prenatal use of acetaminophen by pregnant women may be connected with the development of autism or ADHD in children.
Read on to learn about the connection between America’s most-consumed medicine and autism or ADHD diagnoses and how Fieger Law can help affected families earn the compensation they deserve.
Possible Link Between Autism and ADHD and Prenatal Use of Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, is an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer commonly found in medications like Tylenol or combination medicines like Midol, NyQuil, Robitussin, and Vicodin.
While acetaminophen has been widely used to treat minor aches and pains and low-grade fevers since the 1950s, recent studies have linked prenatal use of the drug to both autism and ADHD.
A 2019 study from Johns Hopkins University found acetaminophen was associated with higher risks of autism and ADHD in children of women who used the drug during pregnancy. The study divided nearly 1,000 newborns into three groups based on the level of acetaminophen found in umbilical cord blood.
The group with the highest levels of acetaminophen was associated with a 2.86-times higher risk of ADHD and a 3.62-times higher risk of autism. The middle group showed a similarly increased risk, with ADHD occurring 2.26 times more and autism 2.14 times more often.
Another study examined autism rates over time compared to the rate of use of acetaminophen. The study found that the rapid increase in the number of autism cases over the last few decades can be linked to a 1980 CDC recommendation to cease dispensing aspirin to newborns and pregnant women. The recommendation was due to the belief that aspirin use could cause Reye’s Syndrome, which has since been debunked.
To replace the use of aspirin, the CDC recommended using acetaminophen. In 1970, the prevalence rate of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the U.S. was about 0.077 per 1,000. By 1987, a similar study found it to be 0.33 per 1,000. As of 2021, that number may be as high as 25 out of every 1,000 children.
Fieger Law understands that families across the country have suffered irreparable damages due to the irresponsible encouragement for pregnant women to use acetaminophen over safer alternatives.
If you think your child’s autism or ADHD is due to prenatal acetaminophen use, contact our attorneys today. We can investigate your case and help you earn the compensation your family deserves.
Responsibility of Acetaminophen Manufacturers to Parents
Under Michigan product liability law, acetaminophen manufacturers may be liable for the damages sustained due to prenatal use of the drug, as the risks were not made known.
The statute allows several protections to shield the manufacturers of medications from personal injury suits. However, it also offers an exemption to these protections. If the manufacturer intentionally withholds or misrepresents information about the drug from the U.S. FDA, they may be liable for your damages.
If the prenatal use of acetaminophen has harmed your child, you may be eligible for compensation. Fieger Law strives to help families affected by the drug by obtaining compensation for the child’s medical expenses, future lost wages, and the drug’s negative impact on their enjoyment of life.
Our drug injury lawyers have experience fighting big pharmaceutical companies. We will use all available evidence, including medical records, diagnostic tests, and expert testimony, to prove your case and earn you and your child a fair settlement.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Fieger Law Today
Autism and ADHD can have an enormous impact on a child’s life. Medical expenses and pain and suffering can prevent them from living a life they may have had if acetaminophen manufacturers had acted responsibly and warned doctors and mothers of the dangers of the drug.
If your child has autism or ADHD caused by prenatal acetaminophen use, schedule a free consultation with Fieger Law to learn how we can help you earn compensation for your child’s injuries. Contact us today to review your claim and help you get started on your case.
