Acetaminophen, a widely used pain reliever known for treating headaches and reducing fever, is most commonly available in pill form.
However, in hospital settings, it’s often delivered intravenously, meaning directly into the bloodstream. This method is favored because it allows the drug to act more quickly, offers better control over the dose, and is an option for patients who cannot swallow pills.
Despite its benefits, intravenous (IV) acetaminophen has been linked to a surprising side effect: a noticeable drop in blood pressure. This side effect isn’t limited to critically ill patients but can affect anyone receiving the drug through IV.
Research indicates that approximately six out of ten seriously ill patients who receive IV acetaminophen experience this drop in blood pressure. In about one-third of these cases, medical intervention is needed to manage the issue.
Though this may sound concerning, IV acetaminophen continues to be used widely due to its overall effectiveness and safety when compared to other pain relievers.
The reason behind this blood pressure drop has been a subject of investigation, and a team of researchers, led by Thomas Qvistgaard Jepps at the University of Copenhagen, has provided new insights.
Their study focused on how IV acetaminophen behaves differently in the body compared to when it’s taken orally.
Normally, when acetaminophen is taken by mouth, it is processed through the liver, where it is broken down into different chemicals. However, when given intravenously, the drug bypasses the liver and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
This leads to the production of different chemicals in the body that interact with potassium channels, which play a key role in controlling blood pressure.
Jepps and his team discovered that these potassium channels are responsible for the blood pressure drop seen in patients receiving IV acetaminophen.
In their experiments with rats, they were able to block these channels, which significantly reduced the blood pressure-lowering effect of the drug.
This research suggests that it may be possible to modify how IV acetaminophen is administered in the future, making it safer for patients who need it.
While these findings are particularly relevant for healthcare providers, the general public doesn’t need to be concerned about blood pressure issues when taking acetaminophen in its typical oral form.
For people who take acetaminophen pills at the recommended doses, there is no risk of experiencing the same blood pressure side effects.
This research, published in Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, adds to the growing body of knowledge about the effects of medications on blood pressure and could lead to improvements in how IV acetaminophen is used in hospitals.
For those interested in broader studies on blood pressure, ongoing research continues to explore the best practices for managing hypertension, including the timing of blood pressure medications and developing new treatments to control blood pressure more effectively.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
