The federal Tylenol autism/ADHD cases were dismissed in 2023 — but in July 2026 a federal appeals court revived more than 500 of them, reinstating the plaintiffs' scientific experts and sending the litigation back to the district court. Here is what that changes, and what it does not.
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This page describes litigation that was dismissed in 2023 and was revived by a federal appeals court in July 2026, sending the cases back to the district court. The statements below are unproven allegations. No defendant has been found liable, the appeals court decided only that the plaintiffs' expert evidence is admissible (not that acetaminophen causes autism or ADHD), no nationwide settlement has been reached, and there is nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal or medical advice.
Is Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Use During Pregnancy Linked to Autism and ADHD in Children?
In a 2019 study performed by Johns Hopkins University and funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers reported that use of acetaminophen during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and autism in children. Overall, the study found that newborns with the highest measured levels of acetaminophen were about three times more likely to receive an ADHD or autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in childhood.That association is contested, and it is at the center of the litigation described below. A federal trial court found the plaintiffs' scientific evidence of causation insufficient and dismissed the federal cases in 2023 — but in July 2026 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed that decision, ruled the plaintiffs' experts may be heard, and sent the cases back to the district court. The appeals court did not decide whether acetaminophen causes autism or ADHD; that question is still unproven and now returns to the trial court.
Update: Federal Appeals Court Revives the Cases (July 2026)
On July 13, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the dismissal of the federal Tylenol autism/ADHD litigation and revived more than 500 cases. The panel held that the district court had wrongly excluded the plaintiffs' general-causation experts, and it reinstated the testimony of three of them — an epidemiologist who is dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a psychiatrist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and a toxicologist at Columbia University. Two other experts the plaintiffs had offered remain excluded.The court was careful about what it was — and was not — deciding. Writing for the panel, Judge Guido Calabresi said the decision was about whether the expert evidence is admissible under the Daubert standard, not about whether acetaminophen actually causes autism or ADHD. The revived cases now return to Judge Denise Cote in the Southern District of New York, where juries may be permitted to hear the experts and weigh the science — but nothing about causation has been proven, and the defendants (including Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol) are expected to challenge the plaintiffs' evidence again on remand. Kenvue has said it continues to believe the science does not show that Tylenol causes autism.
For readers, the practical bottom line has changed only in part. The litigation is alive again rather than dismissed, which removes the biggest obstacle the cases faced. But there is still no settlement, no certified class, and no claim form — so there is nothing to file or claim today, and any path to compensation would be years away and is not guaranteed.
What Compensation Did the Lawsuits Seek?
In product-liability cases of this kind, the types of compensation typically sought have included:• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Future health care and treatment costs
• Lost wages and time related to seeking care for the child
• Expenses related to caregiving and support services
• Costs of healthcare, therapy, and prescription medications
• Amounts reflecting the severity of the child's condition and impact on quality of life
What Did the CDC Recently Say?
The CDC has stated that acetaminophen is still generally considered safe in pregnancy when used at the lowest effective dose and only when necessary. However, it has also noted that emerging research suggests potential associations with developmental outcomes, which remain under scientific review.Why Are RFK Jr. and Donald Trump Talking About Tylenol?
Public figures including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former President Donald Trump have drawn attention to Tylenol litigation and scientific studies linking acetaminophen to developmental conditions. Their statements do not replace scientific findings but have elevated public awareness and debate around the lawsuits and the safety of prenatal acetaminophen use.Are There Ongoing Lawsuits?
Families filed lawsuits claiming manufacturers and retailers failed to warn about potential risks, and those cases were consolidated in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3043, In re: Acetaminophen — ASD-ADHD Products Liability Litigation) before Judge Denise Cote in the Southern District of New York. In December 2023, however, the court excluded the plaintiffs' general-causation experts under the Daubert standard, and it subsequently dismissed the federal cases for lack of admissible evidence that acetaminophen causes autism or ADHD. On July 13, 2026, the Second Circuit reversed that dismissal, reinstated three of the plaintiffs' experts, and returned more than 500 cases to Judge Cote — so the MDL is active again, though no nationwide settlement has ever been reached.What Is the Current Status of the Case?
The appeal has been decided. After Judge Cote dismissed the MDL, the plaintiffs took the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which heard oral argument on November 17, 2025 and, on July 13, 2026, reversed the dismissal. The appeals court reinstated three of the plaintiffs' general-causation experts and sent more than 500 cases back to the district court for further proceedings. The litigation is therefore active again before Judge Cote, where the defendants are expected to renew their challenge to the plaintiffs' evidence. Even so, there is no settlement fund, no certified class, and nothing to claim today.Should Pregnant People Stop Taking Tylenol?
Most health authorities still advise that acetaminophen is one of the safer pain-relief options during pregnancy when used as directed. Pregnant individuals should consult their doctors before taking any medication. The lawsuits do not establish medical guidance but rather seek compensation for families who believe they were not adequately warned of potential risks.When Could Payments Begin?
Payments in litigation of this kind only begin after a settlement or judgment is reached and any appeals are resolved. The Second Circuit's July 2026 decision revived the federal cases, but it did not award anything — no settlement has been finalized, no case has gone to a jury on the merits, and there is no claim deadline. Any path to compensation would depend on how the cases fare on remand, which would take years and is not guaranteed.Can You Still File a Claim?
The federal MDL was dismissed in 2023 but revived by the Second Circuit in July 2026, and the cases are now back before the district court. This page is not a claim intake. How new cases will be handled depends on what happens on remand and is not something we can predict. Anyone who used acetaminophen during pregnancy and whose child was later diagnosed with autism or ADHD and is weighing legal options should consult a qualified attorney about their individual situation and any deadlines that may apply. This page is informational and is not legal or medical advice.Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a nationwide settlement right now?
No. There is still no settlement and no claim form. In December 2023, Judge Denise Cote excluded the plaintiffs' general-causation experts under Daubert and the federal MDL cases were dismissed. On July 13, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed that dismissal, reinstated three of the plaintiffs' experts, and sent more than 500 cases back to the district court. That ruling decided only that the expert testimony is admissible — it did not decide whether acetaminophen causes autism or ADHD — and no settlement has been reached, so there is still nothing to claim.
Can I still file a Tylenol autism lawsuit?
The federal Tylenol autism MDL was dismissed in 2023, but on July 13, 2026 the Second Circuit revived it and sent the cases back to the district court, where the defendants are expected to challenge the plaintiffs' evidence again. Whether and how new cases proceed will depend on what happens on remand. Anyone considering a claim should consult a qualified attorney about their individual situation and any applicable deadlines. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
Is this medical advice?
No. This page provides general information and is not medical or legal advice. People should consult their physicians about treatment decisions and an attorney about their legal options.
Sources
• JURIST — US appeals court reverses dismissal of Tylenol cases (July 2026)• CNBC — US appeals court revives private lawsuits linking Tylenol to autism (July 13, 2026)
• Law.com — Appeals Court Reverses Dismissal of Experts Linking Prenatal Acetaminophen to Autism, ADHD (July 14, 2026)
• In re: Acetaminophen — ASD-ADHD Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3043 (S.D.N.Y.); dismissal reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, July 13, 2026
Important Disclosures
Information on OpenClassActions.com is for general informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice. You should consult a qualified attorney about your individual situation and your physician about treatment decisions. This page does not create an attorney-client relationship.Free settlement alerts
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