🔗 Share this article

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the manufacturers of acetaminophen, claiming the firms hid alleged dangers that the medication posed to children's neurological development.

The lawsuit comes four weeks after President Donald Trump promoted an unsubstantiated connection between consuming Tylenol - also known as acetaminophen - throughout gestation and autism spectrum disorder in young ones.

Paxton is suing Johnson & Johnson, which previously sold the medication, the sole analgesic recommended for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which presently makes it.

In a declaration, he stated they "deceived the public by making money from pain and pushing pills without regard for the risks."

The company states there is lacking scientific proof linking acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.

"These manufacturers misled for generations, knowingly endangering countless individuals to boost earnings," Paxton, a Republican, said.

The manufacturer said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the reliability of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the welfare of women and children in America."

On its official site, Kenvue also mentioned it had "continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is lacking reliable evidence that indicates a established connection between consuming paracetamol and autism."

Groups representing physicians and healthcare providers share this view.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said acetaminophen - the primary component in acetaminophen - is one of the few options for women during pregnancy to address discomfort and elevated temperature, which can pose major wellness concerns if ignored.

"In multiple decades of studies on the utilization of acetaminophen in gestation, not a single reputable study has conclusively proven that the usage of paracetamol in any stage of gestation leads to neurodevelopmental disorders in young ones," the association stated.

This legal action references recent announcements from the former administration in claiming the drug is reportedly hazardous.

Last month, Trump caused concern from health experts when he told pregnant women to "struggle intensely" not to use acetaminophen when sick.

Federal regulators then published an announcement that doctors should contemplate reducing the use of Tylenol, while also stating that "a proven link" between the drug and autism in children has not been established.

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who oversees the Food and Drug Administration, had promised in April to undertake "extensive scientific investigation" that would identify the cause of autism in a limited time.

But specialists warned that finding a single cause of autism spectrum disorder - considered by experts to be the consequence of a intricate combination of genetic and external influences - would be difficult.

Autism spectrum disorder is a type of lifelong neurodivergence and condition that impacts how people perceive and engage with the world, and is diagnosed using physician assessments.

In his legal document, the attorney general - aligned with the former president who is campaigning for US Senate - asserts the manufacturer and Johnson & Johnson "intentionally overlooked and tried to quiet the science" around acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder.

This legal action seeks to make the companies "destroy any promotional materials" that asserts Tylenol is reliable for women during pregnancy.

This legal action echoes the concerns of a collection of guardians of children with autism and ADHD who filed suit against the makers of acetaminophen in two years ago.

The court threw out the case, stating investigations from the family's specialists was lacking definitive proof.