A brand new British study sheds light on the risks of prolonged use of paracetamol in people suffering from d’hypertension. Even if the risks of increased blood pressure are slight, they are still significant. This is a good reason to remain cautious when using this type of drug. Objeko takes stock of what to remember from this study.
Paracetamol: a trivialized use
We all have paracetamol in our medicine cabinet! Doliprane, Dafalgan, Efferalgan, all these drugs are very useful to us on a daily basis because they reduce many of our little ailments. You will not be surprised to learn that this molecule is by far the most used to soothe the symptoms of the most common diseases. common. When used wisely and with the right dosages, paracetamol is a reliable drug in addition to being effective. But in case of overdose, it can be dangerous. An excess of this molecule in the body can in particular cause irreversible damage to the liver.
Because it is a must in our medicine kit and because it is present in the composition of more than 200 drugs according to the SNSM, paracetamol sees its use trivialized. It is for this reason that the laboratories always take care to remind the risks of overdose on the packaging. Today, a recent British study challenges us to new health risks.
A study that confirms a detrimental effect on blood pressure
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh conducted this study published in the journal “Circulation”. She is studying the long-term use of ingested paracetamol in people with high blood pressure. This widespread disease is manifested by excessive pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries. The study gathered a hundred of patients to whom she prescribed 1 g of paracetamol four times a day for two weeks. This dosage corresponds to a classic prescription in case of common disease. In a second step, hypertensive patients received placebos over a similar period of time. Result of this comparative study: paracetamol generates increases of 5 mm Hg on systolic pressure and 1.5 mm Hg on diastolic pressure. In other words, blood pressure shows a significant increase!
The question that can be asked at the end of this study is the following: what are the risks of uncontrolled blood pressure in people with hypertension? Medicine is clear on this subject, it is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors. Nevertheless, it should be considered that the study relates to taking paracetamol only long term. The use of medicines containing it is therefore not questioned for people with hypertension. If you are one of them, you can therefore continue to ingest Doliprane or Dafalgan on an ad hoc basis to treat your headaches and your small fevers.
An adjustment of the prescriptions pending additional tests
But then, what will change with this study? As we told you, you can keep paracetamol neatly stored in your bathroom cabinet! However, you can consult your doctor who will adjust your prescriptions taking into account your hypertension.
For the moment, it is simply a question of reviewing the dosages according to the situation of each hypertensive patient. Subsequently, additional analyzes will be carried out to assess the risk in another case: in hypertensive people suffering from chronic pain. Indeed, it has been proven that pain also increases blood pressure. By reducing the pain, paracetamol can therefore prevent the increase in blood pressure. However, we do not currently know the effects of long-term paracetamol treatment in this context. Fortunately, this question will not go unanswered. Indeed, the physician who coordinated this study, Dr. David Webb, work already in the clinical trial which will be carried out on a greater number of patients suffering from chronic pain. The latter following regular paracetamol treatments, they will allow the researchers to complete their study. As usual, the Objeko team will not fail to keep you informed!