A concerning new study has revealed links between regular paracetamol usage and several life-threatening health issues including peptic ulcers, heart failure, hypertension and chronic kidney disease
People have been issued a warning over the potential harmful effects of paracetamol.
For many, it is the go to drug should people suffer headaches. Many would put little thought into popping a couple, should the need arise.
However, a study by scientists at the University of Nottingham – published in Arthritis Care and Research – has shown prolonged paracetamol use is associated with an increased risk of health issues including peptic ulcers, heart failure, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
Professor Weiya Zhang, from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in the School of Medicine, said: “Due to its perceived safety, paracetamol has long been recommended as the first line drug treatment for osteoarthritis by many treatment guidelines, especially in older people who are at higher risk of drug-related complications.
“Whilst further research is now needed to confirm our findings, given its minimal pain-relief effect, the use of paracetamol as a first line pain killer for long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis in older people needs to be carefully considered.”
For the study, data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink-Gold was analysed of participants aged 65 and over with an average age of 75. Researchers looked at the health records of 180,483 people who had been prescribed paracetamol repeatedly during the study. Their health outcomes were then compared to 402,478 people of the same age who had never been prescribed paracetamol repeatedly.
The report’s conclusion reads: “Despite its perceived safety, acetaminophen [paracetamol] is associated with several serious complications. Given its minimal analgesic effectiveness, the use of acetaminophen as the first-line oral analgesic for long-term conditions in older people requires careful reconsideration.”
This comes after people were warned of the harmful effects of taking painkillers on a daily basis. Approximately 25% of Brits experience chronic pain and evidence shows there are some extremely damaging side effects of long term painkiller use.
Dr Gerard Sinovich, Lead Pain Consultant at Alternaleaf, said: “Over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol are pretty much a ‘default’ pain treatment in this country. However, it shouldn’t actually be used for more than three consecutive days without consulting with a doctor.
“There is very little education in this country around the long term effects that frequent usage can have. From liver failure to kidney damage and breathing problems, the long term side effects can be extremely damaging.”