Urgent warning as this one common medicine ‘may not be as safe’ for people above 65 years (Image: Getty)
New research has revealed consuming paracetamol may not be as safe as perceived in older people. The study led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that repeated doses of paracetamol in people aged 65 and over, can lead to an increased risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal complications.
Published in Arthritis Care and Research, the research shows that care must be taken when repeated doses are required for chronic painful conditions such as osteoarthritis in older people.
Professor Weiya Zhang, from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, who led the study, said: “Due to its perceived safety, paracetamol has long been recommended as the first line drug treatment for osteoarthritis by many treatment guidelines, especially in older people who are at higher risk of drug-related complications.”
The study examined data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink-Gold, focusing on participants aged 65 and older, with an average age of 75.
All participants had been registered with a UK GP practice for at least one year between 1998 and 2018.
Repeated doses of paracetamol in people aged 65 can cause serious issues. (Image: Getty)
Researchers analysed the health records of 180,483 individuals who had been prescribed paracetamol repeatedly (defined as two or more prescriptions within six months) during the study period.
Their health outcomes were compared to those of 402,478 people in the same age group who had never been prescribed paracetamol repeatedly.
The results revealed that prolonged use of paracetamol was linked to an increased risk of peptic ulcers, heart failure, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease.
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Professor Zhang adds: “Whilst further research is now needed to confirm our findings, given its minimal pain-relief effect, the use of paracetamol as a first line pain killer for long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis in older people needs to be carefully considered.”
The finding comes after people were warned of the harmful effects of taking painkillers on a daily basis. Approximately 25 percent of Brits experience chronic pain and evidence shows there are some extremely damaging side effects of long-term painkiller use, reports .
Dr Gerard Sinovich, Lead Pain Consultant at , said: “Over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol are pretty much a ‘default’ pain treatment in this country. However, it shouldn’t actually be used for more than three consecutive days without consulting with a doctor.
“There is very little education in this country around the long-term effects that frequent usage can have. From liver failure to kidney damage and breathing problems, the long-term side effects can be extremely damaging.”