A recent study from the University of Copenhagen has brought to light an unexpected side effect of acetaminophen, a commonly used painkiller.
While many people take acetaminophen orally for headaches, hospitals often administer it intravenously, especially to help critically ill patients who cannot swallow pills.
This method not only works faster but also allows for precise control over dosage and timing.
However, the study uncovered a significant side effect of intravenous acetaminophen: a temporary but substantial drop in blood pressure.
This effect has been observed in both common and critically ill patients. In fact, about 60% of critically ill patients experience this side effect, with one-third needing medical intervention as a result.
The research team set out to understand why this drop in blood pressure occurs. They discovered that when acetaminophen is administered intravenously, it bypasses the liver and is metabolized differently compared to when it is taken orally.
Instead of being processed in the liver, it is metabolized in other parts of the body. This alternate processing leads to the creation of byproducts that affect potassium channels in the body.
These channels play a crucial role in regulating how blood vessels contract and relax, which in turn influences blood pressure.
In their experiments with rats, the researchers found that using drugs to block these potassium channels could reduce the blood pressure-lowering effect of intravenous acetaminophen.
Despite these findings, the study emphasizes that most people should not be concerned about taking acetaminophen in its usual, orally ingested form, as long as they stay within the recommended dosage.
This research is particularly relevant in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. During this time, more critically ill patients may be receiving intravenous acetaminophen in hospitals for pain and fever management.
Understanding the blood pressure effects of intravenous acetaminophen is crucial, especially for those concerned about maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.
The study, led by Thomas Qvistgaard Jepps and his team, was published in the journal Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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