A study suggests that long-term use of paracetamol may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke in people with high blood pressure
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Patients taking the painkiller long-term, often used to treat chronic pain, should choose the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time, the researchers said
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The University of Edinburgh study, published in the scientific journal Circulation, is the first large randomized clinical trial to address this question and complements earlier observational research work
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Paracetamol is generally considered a safer alternative to another class of pain relievers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are known to increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease
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In the latest study, 110 patients with a history of high blood pressure were given one gram of paracetamol (the routinely prescribed dose for people with chronic pain) four times a day, or a matching placebo, for two weeks
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All patients received both treatments, sequentially randomized and blinded
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People taking paracetamol had significantly higher blood pressure than those taking a placebo
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The increase, similar to NSAIDs, may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke by around 20 percent, experts say
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The team said the findings will lead to a review of patients taking long-term paracetamol, especially those with high blood pressure, or those at particular risk for heart disease or stroke
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Lead researcher Dr Ian McIntyre, Consultant Clinical Pharmacology and Nephrology at NHS Lothian, said: "This is not about the short-term use of paracetamol for headaches or fever, which is, of course, good, but it does suggest a new The risk is found for those who take it regularly in the long run, often with chronic pain
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Professor James Deere, Private Chair of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, said: "This study clearly shows that paracetamol - the most commonly used drug in the world - raises blood pressure which is the most important risk factor for heart disease and stroke One
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" Physicians and patients should jointly consider the pros and cons of long-term prescription of paracetamol, especially in patients at risk for cardiovascular disease
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Lead researcher Professor David Webb, Chair of Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, also said: "We recommend that clinicians start with a low dose of paracetamol and then gradually increase the dose, not exceeding the dose required to control pain
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Given that some of our patients have Blood pressure rises substantially, and it may be beneficial for clinicians to pay close attention to blood pressure in hypertensive patients who are just starting paracetamol therapy
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Professor Nils Samani, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, who funded the study, said: "This study shows that regular paracetamol use can rapidly increase blood pressure in hypertensive patients, whose heart The risk of illness and stroke has increased
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" It underscores why doctors and patients should check regularly for the need to continue taking any medication, even those that seem relatively harmless, such as paracetamol, and always weigh the benefits against the risks
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However, if you take paracetamol occasionally to control isolated headaches or very short bursts of pain, these findings should not cause unnecessary concern
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