Photo credit: Daily Mail
Scientists have warned older adults about frequent paracetamol use.
Express reports that they are linking it to serious risks like internal bleeding and kidney disease, according to a major analysis by researchers at the University of Nottingham.
The study tracked over 500,000 adults aged 65 and above for two decades and found a “dose-dependent” relationship between paracetamol use and serious health issues, including stomach ulcers, heart failures, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease.
Individuals prescribed paracetamol twice within six months were particularly vulnerable, with the risk escalating as the frequency and dosage of use increased.
Alarming findings revealed that higher doses significantly raised the likelihood of stomach ulcers bleeding or rupturing.
Paracetamol is often prescribed to manage chronic conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis. it is used by about 90% of adults aged 75 and older to alleviate joint and bone pain.
But an epidemiologist and study author, Professor Weiya Zhang has urged caution. He said, “The use of paracetamol as a first-line painkiller for long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis in older people needs to be carefully reconsidered.”
The findings backed updated guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2022, which recommend exercise programs as the primary treatment for osteoarthritis rather than routine paracetamol use.
