Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal action against the manufacturers of Tylenol, asserting that the companies deliberately concealed potential risks associated with the drug’s impact on children’s brain development. This lawsuit emerges shortly after President Donald Trump publicly promoted an unsubstantiated link between the use of Tylenol (also known as paracetamol) during pregnancy and the development of autism in children.
Paxton’s suit targets Johnson & Johnson, the former seller of Tylenol, which was once the sole pain reliever recommended for pregnant individuals, as well as Kenvue, the current manufacturer. In a public statement, Paxton declared that these companies had “betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks.”
Kenvue, in response, has stated that there is no reliable evidence to support a connection between Tylenol and autism. The company’s website emphasizes that it has “continuously evaluated the relevant science and there is no credible data that shows a proven link between taking acetaminophen and autism.” Health organizations and medical professionals largely concur with this stance.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has affirmed that acetaminophen, the primary ingredient in Tylenol, is among the few safe options for pregnant women to manage pain and fever, conditions that can pose significant health risks if left untreated. The organization further stated that extensive research over two decades has failed to establish a conclusive link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
Paxton’s lawsuit references recent statements from the Trump administration as justification for his claims. Last month, President Trump generated concern among public health officials by advising pregnant women to “fight like hell” against taking Tylenol if they felt unwell. Subsequently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance suggesting that doctors might consider limiting Tylenol use, while also clarifying that a definitive causal relationship between the drug and autism has not been established.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversees the FDA, had previously committed to a substantial research initiative to determine the causes of autism. However, experts have cautioned against oversimplifying the complex nature of autism, which is widely believed by researchers to stem from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Autism itself is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting social interaction and communication, diagnosed through behavioral observations.
In his legal filing, Paxton, who is also campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat, contends that Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson “willfully ignored and attempted to silence the science” concerning acetaminophen and autism. The lawsuit specifically seeks to compel the companies to cease all marketing and advertising that promotes Tylenol as safe for pregnant women.
This legal challenge from Texas mirrors a class-action lawsuit filed in 2022 by parents of children with autism and ADHD against Tylenol manufacturers, which was ultimately dismissed by a federal judge who deemed the expert witness research inconclusive.