Paracetamol harmful to the health of the elderly

Paracetamol, a common over-the-counter painkiller, may increase the risk of gastrointestinal, heart and kidney problems in people aged 65 and over, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Nottingham in the UK. The study is published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research. Paracetamol, which is commonly used to treat fever, is now also being used by doctors to treat joint pain because it is considered more effective, safer and more readily available than other painkillers. However, some studies have questioned the effectiveness of paracetamol for pain relief, while others have shown an increased risk of gastrointestinal problems, such as ulcers and bleeding, with long-term use.

A study by researchers at the University of Nottingham found that paracetamol use is associated with a 24 percent increased risk of peptic ulcer bleeding and a 36 percent increased risk of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. According to the study, taking paracetamol can increase the risk of serious kidney disease by 19 percent, the risk of heart attack by 9 percent and the risk of high blood pressure by 7 percent. Lead researcher Wei Zhang from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham said that paracetamol is recommended as a first-line drug for the treatment of joint pain due to its alleged safety, but it can have adverse effects in the elderly. To reach these results, the researchers studied the health records of 1,80,483 people who were repeatedly given paracetamol. The researchers then compared the health reports with 402,478 people of the same age who had never been given paracetamol repeatedly.