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Nearly 70% of all pregnant people consume over-the-counter medication while pregnant. While it’s understandable for people to do so due to how challenging pregnancy is, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect a developing child.
Over the past few years, multiple studies examining the health of pregnant individuals and their unborn children have found a statistically significant link between individuals taking Tylenol or acetaminophen-containing products and the unborn child developing autism and ADHD.
If you took Tylenol or acetaminophen-containing medications while pregnant and your child was diagnosed with autism or ADHD, you may be eligible to file a claim against the manufacturers of the drug. At Bighorn Law, our attorneys have significant experience representing clients who have been injured as a result of dangerous drugs and medical devices. We offer a free and confidential consultation and work on a contingency basis, meaning we never charge a fee unless we recover compensation on our clients’ behalf. Call 866.353.6024 or email help@bighornlaw.com today for a free consultation.
ASD, ADHD, And Tylenol: What’s The Connection?
In a 2018 meta-analysis of several studies, researchers found that pregnant individuals who took Tylenol over an extended period had a 20% higher risk of autism and a 30% higher risk of ADHD in their unborn children.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins measured the volume of acetaminophen in the blood of newborn children. They found a correlation between the amount of acetaminophen in the blood and the increased likelihood of being diagnosed with ASD or ADHD.
Doctors from across the world signed a joint consensus statement that stated that pregnant people should forgo the use of acetaminophen completely unless administered by a doctor and the individual is closely monitored – all due to the neurodevelopmental effects of acetaminophen on the unborn.
What To Do If Your Family Is Affected By In-Utero Tylenol Usage
If you believe that you or a family member has been affected by in-utero usage of acetaminophen-containing products, a trusted law partner can help you bring your case against the manufacturers of such drugs.
Currently, there is action taking place that claims Johnson & Johnson, as well as other manufacturers, did not warn individuals against using acetaminophen while pregnant. If you believe you have a case, contacting an attorney specializing in this type of class action will ensure that justice will be brought against those manufacturers.
What Is Tylenol?
Acetaminophen or paracetamol, known by the brand name Tylenol, is an over-the-counter pain (OTC) relief drug that attempts to treat “mild to moderate” pain for those who use it. The primary manufacturer of brand-name Tylenol is Johnson & Johnson, with many generic manufacturers across the country.
Acetaminophen is used to treat the following conditions:
- Headaches, Tension Headaches, and Migraines
- Menstrual Cramps
- Arthritic Aches and Pains
- Muscular Aches
- Fever
- Toothaches
- Pain from Cold or Flu
Tylenol is available in many dosage options, from as little as 15mg tablets to 500mg extra strength tablets. In addition to tablets, they can be administered as a capsule, powder, liquid, or suppository. And while Tylenol may be the most readily available example of an acetaminophen-containing product, this chemical is also found in over 600 other OTC products.
According to the Mayo Clinic, adults who weigh at least 150 pounds should not exceed 4000 mg of acetaminophen per day, which equates to approximately eight 500 mg tablets per day. Since 500 mg is just one dose for adults, and adults may take many more tablets to treat their pain, this can have dire consequences for the unborn child.
So, if the Mayo Clinic says that infants from 0 to 3 can only handle 40 mg of acetaminophen in their system, what could be the consequences of a pregnant person taking a 500 mg acetaminophen tablet while still pregnant?
How A Developing Fetus Metabolizes Substances
Very few studies are conducted on pregnant people due to the legal and ethical issues surrounding studying this human population. This leads to many researchers conducting literature reviews, pre and post-pregnancy surveys, and sophisticated statistical modeling to predict how medicine and other substances affect a developing human fetus.
In the case of not just drug use but all ingested substances, the pregnant individual ingesting these substances makes them metabolize in the unborn child. Due to the child’s developing but not fully developed renal function and metabolic pathways, “drug exposure in utero may produce deleterious effects in the fetus.”
Absorption of an OTC drug can happen more immediately. It will affect different systems than the pregnant parent because fetuses have no effective systems to help it cope with “pharmaceutical agents entering its biosphere.”
In fact, despite the lack of formal studies on the matter, the fetus can have abnormalities that can develop over several months or even up to 20 years – well into the child’s young adulthood.
Understanding Autism And ADHD
Autism and ADHD often coincide in children. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, 30 to 80 percent of individuals diagnosed with autism could meet the criteria for receiving an ADHD diagnosis, and 20 to 50 percent of individuals with ADHD could receive an autism diagnosis.
In fact, these conditions are so linked that some researchers are proposing that ADHD and autism are different types of the same condition.
Defining Autism (ASD)
According to the most recent edition of the DSM-V, the formal diagnostic guidebook for mental health conditions and disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is “having persistent deficits in three areas of social communication and interaction.”
As autism is a developmental disorder that cannot be prevented or cured, those diagnosed with ASD may manage it via psychotherapy treatments, medicine, and family and larger society support.
Defining ADHD
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common developmental disorders in children. It manifests as having issues controlling impulsive behaviors or paying attention.
The Centers for Disease Control states that there are three main types of ADHD:
- Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: this type has difficulty self-regulating regarding finishing work or tasks, forgets details or steps, and challenges following instructions or conversations.
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: this type is restless and faces challenges in impulsiveness, fidgeting, or moving constantly.
- Combined Presentation: this type is a combination of the above two types, with them equally present in the child.
Call For a Free Consultation
At Bighorn Law, we understand how difficult an injury to or diagnosis of an adverse medical condition in a child can be. We also understand how important the legal process can be in securing vital resources to improve their lives and pay for education and treatment. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling drug and medical device litigation. We handle all cases on a contingency basis, meaning we never charge a fee unless we recover compensation on our clients’ behalf. Call 866.353.6024 or email help@bighornlaw.com today for a free consultation.
