A medical study had suggested that people who take paracetamol on a regular basis may be at higher risk of certain deadly diseases. Paracetamol had been considered entirely safe for patients with high blood pressure, until recently.
A 2022 study also had found that its effect on blood pressure is similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. NSAIDs are known to raise blood pressure and heart disease risk.
Experts were suggesting that there was potentially an increase in the risk of heart disease or stroke by around 20% due to the rise in blood pressure. Researchers were said to recommend that patients, typically those with chronic pain treatment, who had long-term prescriptions for the painkiller, ‘should be given the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time, as previously reported’.
Professor James Dear, personal chairman 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.” He then said doctors and patients should: “together consider the risks versus the benefits”, especially where patients are at risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Professor Dear added: “In summary, we’ve shown that two weeks of treatment with paracetamol increases blood pressure in patients who have hypertension (high blood pressure).”
Occasional paracetamol users need not be concerned
Dr Iain MacIntyre, a consultant in clinical pharmacology and nephrology at NHS Lothian, added that occasional paracetamol users need not be concerned.
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.”
Researchers found that once the medication was stopped, blood pressure returned to normal, which suggested that it did have an impact on increasing it.
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