🔗 Share this article

The top legal official in Texas Paxton is filing a lawsuit against the makers of acetaminophen, asserting the companies withheld alleged dangers that the drug posed to children's cognitive development.

The court filing arrives a month after Donald Trump promoted an unproven link between taking Tylenol - also known as acetaminophen - throughout gestation and autism spectrum disorder in offspring.

The attorney general is taking legal action against the pharmaceutical giant, which formerly manufactured the medication, the exclusive pain medication approved for expectant mothers, and the current manufacturer, which currently produces it.

In a official comment, he said they "deceived the public by profiting off of pain and pushing pills without regard for the potential hazards."

The manufacturer asserts there is insufficient reliable data linking acetaminophen to autism spectrum disorder.

"These corporations misled for generations, knowingly endangering countless individuals to line their pockets," Paxton, from the Republican party, stated.

The manufacturer commented that it was "seriously troubled by the spread of false claims on the security of acetaminophen and the likely effects that could have on the welfare of US mothers and children."

On its website, Kenvue also stated it had "continuously evaluated the pertinent research and there is insufficient valid information that indicates a established connection between taking acetaminophen and autism spectrum disorder."

Organizations acting on behalf of medical professionals and healthcare providers agree.

ACOG has said paracetamol - the primary component in acetaminophen - is a restricted selection for expectant mothers to manage pain and fever, which can pose serious health risks if not addressed.

"In multiple decades of investigation on the consumption of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has conclusively proven that the usage of paracetamol in any stage of gestation results in neurological conditions in children," the group said.

The court filing cites recent announcements from the previous government in arguing the medication is reportedly hazardous.

Last month, the former president caused concern from public health officials when he told pregnant women to "fight like hell" not to consume Tylenol when sick.

The FDA then issued a notice that physicians should consider limiting the consumption of acetaminophen, while also stating that "a proven link" between the drug and autism spectrum disorder in young ones has not been established.

The Health Department head Robert F Kennedy Jr, who oversees the FDA, had promised in spring to initiate "extensive scientific investigation" that would identify the cause of autism in a limited time.

But specialists warned that discovering a sole reason of autism spectrum disorder - considered by experts to be the result of a complex mix of inherited and external influences - would be difficult.

Autism spectrum disorder is a category of enduring cognitive variation and condition that impacts how persons perceive and interact with the environment, and is diagnosed using doctors' observations.

In his lawsuit, Paxton - aligned with the former president who is campaigning for the Senate - alleges Kenvue and J&J "intentionally overlooked and sought to suppress the evidence" around paracetamol and autism spectrum disorder.

This legal action seeks to make the companies "remove any promotional materials" that states acetaminophen is safe for expectant mothers.

The Texas lawsuit echoes the concerns of a collection of guardians of minors with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who filed suit against the producers of Tylenol in 2022.

The court rejected the case, stating studies from the plaintiffs' authorities was inconclusive.