(NaturalHealth365)  When you’re pregnant, the last thing you want to do is consume anything that could put your unborn child at risk.  That’s why regulations for many common medications exist.

Unfortunately, some medications have alarming risks, despite being touted as safe during pregnancy.  For example, hundreds of lawsuits are currently being filed against several retailers and manufacturers who sold products containing acetaminophen to pregnant women, even though there was evidence the drug could potentially harm an unborn baby.

Hundreds of lawsuits allege acetaminophen may cause children to be born with autism and ADHD

Acetaminophen is a widely used over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer.  It’s found in numerous popular products, such as DayQuil, Alka-Seltzer, Tylenol, and Robitussin, to name a few.  Some big retailers, like Walmart, also sell generic brands of acetaminophen.

Aspirin, another common pain reliever, was found to potentially cause Reye’s Syndrome in the 1980s.  Therefore, acetaminophen became the drug of choice to treat pain and fever in its place.  However, the incidence of autism began increasing simultaneously with this rise in acetaminophen use.  So much so that a striking 1 in 30 children born in 2020 were diagnosed with autism in the U.S. alone.  Another alarming statistic states that the prevalence of autism has increased by 53% since 2017.

Consequently, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against big-name retailers and manufacturers, such as Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS, alleging these companies advertised and promoted acetaminophen use during pregnancy – with no warnings about the potential risks to the developing baby.

Multiple peer-reviewed studies link acetaminophen to pregnancy harm

Many of the plaintiffs in these lawsuits are parents whose children ended up with severe developmental issues following acetaminophen use when their mothers were pregnant.  These children suffer from various symptoms of autism and ADHD.  They now face life-altering problems like behavioral issues, aggression, trouble focusing, delayed developmental milestones and being nonverbal.

But could the apparent links between autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and acetaminophen use in pregnancy be a mere coincidence?

Possibly.  Yet, many peer-reviewed studies seem to suggest otherwise.  For example, one 2021 study concluded that kids whose mothers had taken Tylenol during pregnancy were at a significantly higher risk of autism and ADHD symptoms.  Another Johns Hopkins study indicated a link between fetal exposure to acetaminophen and developmental disorders, such as an increased risk of autism and ADHD.

Numerous other studies in renowned, peer-reviewed journals have detailed similar findings.  Additionally, acetaminophen is associated with a risk of liver damage and inhibited testosterone production and is also shown to impact reproductive development in mice.  In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even advised that pregnant women use caution when taking acetaminophen, although they would not say there was enough available research to define the risks.

Ultimately, it’s worth exercising caution when taking any medication during pregnancy.  There may also be safer, more natural remedies to help with pain.  For instance, a daily fish oil supplement may help alleviate inflammation.  When in doubt, do your own research, or ask your integrative doctor about what’s safe during pregnancy.

Sources for this article include:

Childrenshealthdefense.org