The makers of Tylenol are going on the offensive, claiming that the lawsuit filed by the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is “perpetuating misinformation” and of “deliberate distortion” on the alleged risks of the product’s active ingredient, acetaminophen, by using “unproven claims.” The suit claims the drug increases the risk of autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, better known by its acronym of ADHD.
Acetaminophen is an analgesic medication, which is used to relieve mild-to-moderate pain from conditions such as headaches, muscle aches, and colds. It is also known as an antipyretic, which works by acting on the heat-regulating center in the brain to reduce a fever.
The lawsuit [dated Monday, October 27, 2025, pg. 48.], was filed in Panola County, Texas District Court. The filing accuses Johnson and Johnson, and the now-independent corporate spinoff Kenvue, that makes Tylenol, of violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act by marketing Tylenol to pregnant mothers as safe.
As Houston Public Media reports, this legal action becomes the first lawsuit of its kind from a state government and comes just a month after President Donald Trump announced guidance recommending that pregnant women avoid using acetaminophen – the active ingredient in Tylenol. An October 28, 2025, statement from Paxton’s office makes a direct reference to the claims made by President Trump. “The considerable body of evidence demonstrating these dangers was recently highlighted by the Trump Administration.
In a statement of its own, Kenvue responded that it is quote, "deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen. While some studies have shown a possible correlation between acetaminophen use and autism, none have established a causal link – AND major medical associations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have maintained that the drug is safe to take during pregnancy.”
Kenvue further stated that the “FDA itself has evaluated the scientific evidence for over a decade and repeatedly concluded the data does not support a causal association between taking acetaminophen and autism. This position is as recent as what was explained in FDA’s Notice to Physicians. FDA also previously evaluated, and rejected, updating the pregnancy warning on the product label.”
But Kenvue described the current lawsuit as “a deliberate distortion of the facts being driven by the plaintiffs’ bar as this latest filing, which is a common tactic used by plaintiffs’ lawyers in product liability cases, is yet another attempt to revive legal claims that have already been thrown out in federal court.” The Kenvue statement concluded “We will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims and respond per the legal process.”
But Paxton’s statement also made reference to a previous legal action against Johnson & Johnson. “Previously, Attorney General Paxton secured a $700 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson for making misleading and deceptive claims about its baby powder products that contained talc.”
KFF Researchers discovered that partisanship has played a major role in public perception regarding President Trump’s warning in September that using acetaminophen during pregnancy could increase the risk of autism (refer to graphic above). KFF, or the Kaiser Family Foundation, is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that focuses on health policy research and polling.
