Acetaminophen is a familiar medicine that most of us have probably used to manage headaches.
Usually, we take it as a pill, but in hospitals, it’s often given in a different way – directly into a vein, which is referred to as “intravenous” delivery.
This method has a few benefits, such as working faster since it goes directly into the bloodstream and providing medical professionals better control over the dosage.
Moreover, for patients who have difficulty swallowing, this method is notably more convenient.
The Unexpected Side Effect: A Dip in Blood Pressure
But here’s something you might find unexpected: giving acetaminophen this way can sometimes cause a patient’s blood pressure to drop temporarily.
This effect can happen in various patients, from those in stable condition to critically ill individuals.
Particularly, around 60% of critically ill patients experience this, and a third of them require medical attention due to this side effect.
Despite this, intravenous acetaminophen continues to be widely used in hospitals as it’s deemed safe and stable, with most healthcare professionals being cognizant of its potential impact on blood pressure.
Investigating the Why and How
Why does this happen? A team of researchers, led by Thomas Qvistgaard Jepps from the University of Copenhagen, decided to delve into this question.
They found that when acetaminophen is given directly into the bloodstream, it bypasses the liver, altering how the body processes it compared to when it’s taken orally.
The alternative processing path produces byproducts that affect parts of our cells known as potassium channels, which play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure.
The study didn’t stop there. The researchers took their investigation a step further by testing drugs that block these potassium channels in lab rats.
The results showcased promise, demonstrating that these drugs could mitigate the blood pressure drop caused by intravenous acetaminophen.
Looking Forward with Caution and Understanding
Despite these findings, the researchers stress that most people need not worry about using painkillers like acetaminophen, provided they adhere to the recommended dosages.
This insight is particularly noteworthy during critical times, such as the COVID-19 crisis, when numerous severely ill patients might be receiving intravenous acetaminophen in hospitals to manage pain and fever symptoms.
As we journey through the complex world of medicines and their effects on our bodies, research like this provides essential insights, helping us to use them more safely and effectively.
If the topic of blood pressure piques your interest, there’s additional research out there exploring optimal times to take high blood pressure medications and innovative methods scientists are deploying to treat high blood pressure.
To dig deeper into related health studies, you might explore findings that propose beetroot juice as a potential aid to lower high blood pressure, or another study suggesting a common plant nutrient could have a similar effect.
Note: The study mentioned is published in the journal Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and top 10 choices for a blood pressure-friendly diet
For more information about high blood pressure, please read studies about a common and unrecognized cause of high blood pressure, and this small habit can greatly benefit people with high blood pressure, cholesterol.
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