A recent study from the University of Edinburgh suggests that long-term use of paracetamol may increase the risk of heart disease and strokes in people with high blood pressure. This finding challenges the common belief that paracetamol is a safer pain relief option than other painkillers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
For many years, doctors have recommended paracetamol as a better alternative to NSAIDs, especially for people with high blood pressure. NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, have been known to raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart problems. Because of this, many people with chronic pain have turned to paracetamol instead.
However, this new research suggests that paracetamol might not be as harmless as previously thought when taken over a long period.
In the study, researchers looked at 110 patients who already had high blood pressure. The participants were split into two groups: one group took one gram of paracetamol four times a day (a typical dose for chronic pain), while the other group took a placebo (a harmless pill with no active ingredients). This treatment continued for two weeks.
At the end of the study, researchers found that those who took paracetamol had a significant increase in blood pressure compared to those who took the placebo. The increase in blood pressure was similar to the effect seen with NSAIDs. This level of blood pressure rise could raise the risk of heart disease or stroke by about 20 percent.
The study suggests that people who need to take paracetamol regularly should use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Doctors may need to reconsider long-term prescriptions of paracetamol for patients who are already at risk of heart disease or stroke.
Since paracetamol is one of the most widely used painkillers in the world, these findings are important. They highlight the need for doctors and patients to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of taking paracetamol for long periods.
While it remains a useful pain relief option, people with high blood pressure should be aware of the potential risks and discuss alternative treatments with their doctors.
The research was published in the medical journal Circulation and conducted by Dr. Iain MacIntyre and his team.
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