The humble paracetamol tablet, a staple in British medicine cabinets, is under renewed scrutiny as health officials issue important safety guidance. While millions rely on it for pain and fever relief, specific groups are being urged to exercise caution.
Who Should Seek Professional Advice?
The NHS has identified five key groups who should consult a healthcare professional before taking paracetamol. This guidance comes as approximately 200 million packets of the painkiller are sold over the counter annually across the UK.
The groups requiring medical consultation include: people who have experienced allergic reactions to medicines, particularly paracetamol; individuals with existing kidney or liver conditions; those taking certain prescription medications; people who regularly consume more than 14 units of alcohol weekly; and adults weighing under 50kg (eight stone) who might need adjusted dosages.
Understanding Proper Usage and Risks
Paracetamol serves as a common treatment for aches, pains, and high temperatures, available in various forms including tablets, capsules, and syrups. Standard dosing for healthy adults allows for two 500mg tablets four times within 24 hours, with at least four hours between doses. Crucially, patients should never exceed eight tablets in this period.
The NHS emphasises the importance of checking other medication ingredients, warning: "Do not take paracetamol alongside other medicines that contain paracetamol. If you take two different medicines that contain paracetamol, there's a risk of overdose."
While generally safe with most antibiotics, special caution applies to people taking warfarin or medications for epilepsy and tuberculosis.
New Research Highlights Long-Term Concerns
Recent scientific evidence has reinforced the need for careful paracetamol use. A University of Nottingham study published last November examined medical records from 180,483 people aged 65 and over who had been prescribed the medication, comparing them with 402,478 non-users.
The findings revealed that prolonged paracetamol usage could significantly increase risks of serious complications including heart failure, elevated blood pressure, gastric ulcers, and chronic kidney disease.
Lead researcher Professor Weiya Zhang commented: "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 research team has called for a thorough reconsideration of paracetamol as the primary option for managing persistent pain, particularly among elderly patients.
For comprehensive guidance on paracetamol use, including specific instructions for brands like Panadol and Hedex, visit the official NHS website and always read medication packaging carefully before use.
