Continue to take paracetamol

Paracetamol is the most widely used painkiller. Paracetamol is usually used to treat mild to moderate pain, ranging from headaches, menstrual pain, toothaches, joint pain, and pain that is felt during the flu. This drug can be obtained by prescription or not. So that many people use paracetamol for a long time. So, are there any long-term side effects of paracetamol?

Are there any side effects of paracetamol?

Side effects from paracetamol are actually rare, but can still appear, such as:

• nausea, upper stomach pain, hives, loss of appetite
• dark urine, pale stool
• yellow on the skin and eyes
• allergic reactions, which can cause a rash and swelling
• flushing, low blood pressure and a fast heartbeat, this can sometimes occur when paracetamol is given in a vein in your arm
• blood disorders, such as thrombocytopenia (low platelet cell count) and leukopenia (low white blood cell count)
• liver and kidney damage if you take too much (overdose), this can be fatal in severe cases

Not everyone experiences these side effects. However, if you experience any of these symptoms after taking paracetamol, contact your doctor immediately.

So, are there any long-term side effects of paracetamol?

Paracetamol is considered safer than other commonly used analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or opioids.

However, its long-term use is still debated and underestimated by some. A study led by Professor Philip Conaghan from the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds, addresses these doubts.

In the study, the researchers found that there is a possible risk of developing heart disease, kidney problems, and disorders of the digestive system with long-term use of paracetamol.

Although indeed, the risks mentioned are quite small, there is still a chance of the disease.

This study shows that the adverse health risks of taking paracetamol in the long term are underestimated. Especially in relation to an increased risk of heart, gastrointestinal and kidney problems.

Indeed, this research still needs to be explored deeper, but still you have to be careful and consult your doctor first if you want to use paracetamol in the long term.

So, how long is paracetamol safe to use?

So far. There are no limits or benchmarks on how long this painkiller is safe to use. The thing to remember is that you should only use this medicine when you have pain, whether it's a headache or pain in another part of your body.

However, if indeed the aches and pains that you are experiencing do not go away, there may be a problem or disorder that is happening to your body. If it is very disturbing and ongoing, you should immediately consult a doctor.

So that, if there is a certain health problem that you are experiencing, it can be detected early. Again, always consult a doctor if you want to use the drug in the long term.