Regular paracetamol users could be at an increased risk of certain fatal diseases, warns a recent medical study.
Paracetamol was previously considered entirely safe for patients with high blood pressure, but a 2022 study has found its effect on blood pressure to be similar to that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.
While NSAIDs are commonly used to manage chronic pain, they are also known to elevate blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease.
Experts suggest that the rise in blood pressure could potentially increase the risk of heart disease or stroke by approximately 20%. Researchers therefore suggest that patients with long-term prescriptions for this painkiller, typically used for chronic pain management, should be given the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible amount of time.
Professor James Dear, personal chair of clinical pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, said: “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 emphasised that doctors and patients should “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, consultant in clinical pharmacology and nephrology at NHS Lothian, said those who use paracetamol occasionally shouldn’t be concerned.
The doctor 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.”
The research found that once participants stopped taking the medication, their blood pressure reverted to baseline levels recorded at the start of the study, indicating the drug had elevated it.
Scientists said they while they don’t have precise figures for Brits on long-term paracetamol who suffer from hypertension, it is believed that one in three UK adults with elevated blood pressure consume paracetamol routinely.
The academics noted the study was designed to detect minimal blood pressure changes, making the substantial impact they observed particularly surprising.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which backed the research, said the discoveries “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.”
Blood Pressure UK reports approximately one in three British adults suffers from hypertension. In England, this affects 31% of males and 26% of females.