It comes on the back of a study into paracetamol and high blood pressure
Certain people who take paracetamol on a regular basis could face an increased risk of heart disease or stroke, a medical study has revealed. Prior to a 2022 study, paracetamol was considered entirely safe for patients with high blood pressure.
However researchers uncovered its effect on blood pressure is actually similar to that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. NSAIDs are typically used to manage chronic pain but are known to elevate blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
Scientists say the rise in blood pressure could potentially increase the risk of heart disease or stroke by approximately 20%. Researchers recommend that patients with a long-term prescription for this painkiller, usually prescribed for chronic pain management, should be administered the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible.
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 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, consultant in clinical pharmacology and nephrology at NHS Lothian, said occasional paracetamol users needn’t be concerned, adding: “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 dropped back to baseline levels recorded at the study’s beginning, indicating the drug had elevated it, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. Scientists said that while they don’t have exact figures, it’s believed roughly one in three British adults with elevated blood pressure use paracetamol regularly.
Experts 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 results “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 UK adults suffers from hypertension. In England this is 31% of men and 26% of women.
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