Long-term paracetamol use harmful

Long-term, habitual use of the painkiller paracetamol (acetaminophen) may cause a decline in kidney function in some people. Researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, USA, studied 1700 women and found that women who had taken between 1,500 and 9,000 tablets over their lifetimes raised their risk of kidney impairment by 64 percent. For those who took more than 9,000 tablets, the risk more than doubled. There was no association in this study between kidney impairment and aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs known collectively as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but some previous research has shown a connection. Overall, one in 10 of the 1,700 women studied over 11 years experienced a 30 percent decline in their kidney's filtration function.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is alone among commonly used painkillers to show an association with kidney impairment. The above findings do not prompt people to discontinue using it but instead, this study suggests a need for the medical community to consider alternative pain therapies that may help patients avoid long-term dependence on these drugs until the potential side effects are clearly understood. The good news is that, based on the current research, it appeared that for the vast majority of women, most pain relievers are safe for the kidney. Pain relievers are used commonly, especially among women. As a growing number of patients take painkillers on a regular basis to alleviate chronic pain or to prevent heart disease and stroke, it is important for clinicians to fully appreciate that these medications may also have adverse effects on an individual's long-term health.