Health experts issue urgent warning to over paracetamol

New research has shown that patients who regularly take paracetamol may face an increased risk of certain deadly diseases

A recent medical study has raised concerns about the regular use of paracetamol, prompting health experts to issue a warning. Until recently, it was believed that paracetamol was entirely safe for patients with high blood pressure.

However, new findings suggest that those who regularly take the drug may face an increased risk of certain deadly diseases. A 2022 study found that the impact on blood pressure is similar to that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.

Health professionals have suggested that this rise in blood pressure could potentially increase the risk of heart disease or stroke by approximately 20%. Researchers recommend that patients with long-term prescriptions for the painkiller, typically used to treat chronic pain, should be given the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration.

Professor James Dear, personal chairman of clinical pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, advised doctors and patients to "together consider the risks versus the benefits", particularly for patients 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)."

Dr Iain MacIntyre, the lead investigator and consultant in clinical pharmacology and nephrology at NHS Lothian, has provided reassurance to occasional paracetamol users, suggesting they need not be concerned. Dr MacIntyre clarified: "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 study revealed that blood pressure levels returned to normal once participants stopped taking paracetamol, which suggests the medication was behind the rise.

Although precise data on how many long-term paracetamol users in the UK also have high blood pressure is lacking, it's estimated that one in three adults with high blood pressure are frequent users of this drug. The scale of the impact on blood pressure observed caught the research team off guard, as the initial aim was to detect only a slight effect.

Highlighting the significance of these findings, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation which backed the research, emphasised the crucial nature of the discovery by expressing it "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."