Regular paracetamol users could be at an increased risk of certain fatal diseases, a medical study has suggested. Until recently, it was believed that paracetamol was entirely safe for patients with high blood pressure.
But a 2022 study discovered that its impact on blood pressure is similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. NSAIDs are commonly used to manage chronic pain but are also known to raise blood pressure and heart disease risk.
Experts suggest that the 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 this painkiller, typically used for chronic pain treatment, should receive the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration.
Professor James Dear, personal chair of clinical pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, stated: “This study clearly shows that paracetamol, the world’s most used drug, increases blood pressure, one of the most important risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. Prof Dear advised doctors and patients to “together consider the risks versus the benefits”, particularly where patients are 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).”
Lead researcher Dr Iain MacIntyre, a consultant in clinical pharmacology and nephrology at NHS Lothian, stressed that occasional users of paracetamol have no cause for concern. Dr MacIntyre explained: “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”, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
The research revealed that once participants stopped taking the medication, their blood pressure reverted to its initial level, suggesting the drug had caused the increase. Although the researchers were unable to provide precise figures for the number of individuals in the UK who take paracetamol long-term and have high blood pressure, it is estimated that one in three UK adults with high blood pressure regularly take paracetamol.
The study’s findings, according to experts, reveal a larger impact than anticipated, as they were designed to identify a very minor effect on blood pressure. Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, the British Heart Foundation’s medical director, which supported the study, stated that the findings “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.”
According to Blood Pressure UK, around 31% of men and 26% of women in England have high blood pressure.