Paracetamol is available over the counter and is commonly used
People who take paracetamol frequently could be at an increased risk of certain deadly diseases, warns a medical study. It was previously believed that paracetamol was entirely safe for patients with high blood pressure.
However, a 2022 study discovered its effect on blood pressure is similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. NSAIDs are typically used to manage chronic pain but are known to elevate blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. Medical experts suggest the rise in blood pressure could potentially increase the risk of heart disease or stroke by approximately 20%.
Researchers advise that patients with long-term prescriptions for this painkiller, usually prescribed for chronic pain, should receive the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible. Professor James Dear, personal chair of clinical pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This study clearly shows that paracetamol, the world’s most used drug, increases blood pressure, one of the most important risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.”
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Prof Dear advised doctors and patients to together “consider the risks versus the benefits”, particularly where patients are at risk of cardiovascular disease. He added: “In summary, we’ve shown that two weeks of treatment with paracetamol increases blood pressure in patients who have hypertension (high blood pressure).”
Lead researcher Dr Iain MacIntyre, consultant in clinical pharmacology and nephrology at NHS Lothian, said people who use paracetamol occasionally shouldn’t be concerned. Dr MacIntyre said: “This is not about short-term use of paracetamol for headaches or fever, which is, of course, fine – but it does indicate a newly discovered risk for people who take it regularly over the longer term, usually for chronic pain.”
The research revealed that once participants stopped taking the medication, their blood pressure dropped back to baseline levels recorded at the study’s beginning, indicating the drug had elevated it, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. Scientists said that while they didn’t have exact figures, it is estimated that one in three UK adults with high blood pressure takes paracetamol on a regular basis.
Experts noted the study was designed to detect minimal blood pressure changes, yet they were taken aback by the significantly larger impact observed. Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which backed the research, said the discoveries “emphasise why doctors and patients should regularly review whether there is an ongoing need to take any medication” and “always weigh up the benefits and risks. “.
Blood Pressure UK reports approximately one in three UK adults suffers from high blood pressure. In England, this is 31% of men and 26% of women.