Experts warn about the danger of the most common painkiller in the world
This medication, used to relieve headaches, fever, and back pain, is traditionally considered safe. However, new research questions this assumption, reports Daily Mail.
Recent scientific data link regular use of paracetamol with liver failure, high blood pressure, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as the risk of developing conditions such as autism and ADHD in children.
Professor Andrew Moore from Cochrane Collaboration notes: the traditional view of the drug's safety is "probably false." He emphasizes that even a "safe" dose (up to 4 grams per day — that is, two 500 mg tablets four times a day) taken over a long period can cause toxic damage to the liver and kidneys.
Many people, according to doctors, are unaware that soluble cold remedies also contain paracetamol. Simultaneous use of such remedies with tablets easily leads to accidental overdose. Particularly vulnerable are patients with low body weight, liver diseases, or those who consume alcohol.
Studies also show that the effectiveness of paracetamol in fighting pain is often overstated: only one in ten people experience relief from headaches, and one in four from postoperative pain. Moreover, regular use of the drug may increase blood pressure, raising the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Experts recommend using paracetamol at the minimally effective dose and only when necessary, especially for people over 65 years old.
