By LawInspectsIn these last couple of days, everyone is seeing a surge in the talks about autism and how it is linked to something called Tylenol. Well, at first, people were somewhat skeptical of all this, but now, there are some studies showing that there could be a link. And that is why this Tylenol Autism Lawsuit is going viral, and let’s just talk about it for a minute.
When And How Did It All Start?
Well, for that, let’s go back to September 2022, and ever since, the fame of this lawsuit has significantly increased. It was then that several related lawsuits were consolidated into one ‘big’ case, also known as Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). The legal actions have been directed at corporations such as Johnson & Johnson (ex-producer of Tylenol) and big retailers like Walmart, CVS, and Costco. And what exactly are the allegations made against them? Well, according to them, these companies neglected to warn the users, particularly pregnant women, about the probable risks that go along with the use of Tylenol. You’ll see how serious of a matter this is.
What Does Science Say?
Well, in a study done in Sweden, there was no link found between Tylenol and ADHD, but now, there are other studies turning up, and the results are seriously concerning. Like, just to give you an idea, a prominent research conducted by Johns Hopkins University analyzed the umbilical cord blood of almost 1,000 babies. The findings indicated that infants with elevated amounts of acetaminophen (the primary component of Tylenol) had a risk of developing autism or ADHD four times as high as those with lower levels, at a later stage of their lives.
A different study, which was documented in the American Journal of Epidemiology, demonstrates that children whose mothers used Tylenol while expecting the pregnancy had a 34% higher probability of getting ADHD, and the chance of being diagnosed with autism was 19% greater.
And What Exactly Went Down Behind Court Walls?
First of all, we should discuss the actual events that took place in court. The MDL court was under the jurisdiction of Judge Denise Cote in New York. In the closing days of 2023, she went through the scientific evidence quite thoroughly and came to the conclusion that the evidence was not sufficient. Her rejection of the expert witnesses supported by the parents was based on the fact that these witnesses did not establish a verifiable link between the use of Tylenol and autism.
Moreover, she revoked all the suits filed at the federal level in August 2024 without any fuss. The whole litigation was dismissed by the federal courts. However, it was not the finish line.
The parents didn’t waste any time in launching an appeal. As of 2025, the appeal is still being processed. While waiting for the decision, they hired a new specialist, Dr. Roberta Ness, with a new record of facts to stir up the case. This could possibly affect the outcome, but we cannot say for sure at this point.
Did Trump Say Something About It?
Well, it all became a viral thing when Trump talked about it. In September 2025, 47th President Donald Trump shocked the media and went on to say that Tylenol was “not good” for pregnant women. He recommended that the drug be used only if the mother was in extreme pain and went as far as urging people to “fight like crazy” to get other options.