Regular Use Of Paracetamol Could Lead To Heart Attack and Stomach Ulcer

The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control
(NAFDAC)and theUnited States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)has
said that the regular use of painkillers especially,paracetamolscould
lead to heart attacks, stroke and early death,The Guardian reports.

According to a study published in theAnnals of the Rheumatic
Diseasesjournal, patients prescribed high doses of the painkiller for
long periods were 63% more likely to die unexpectedly.

There is also a 68% higher chance of having a heart attack or stroke
and an almost 50% greater chance of having a stomach ulcer or bleed.

Generally, Paracetamol is considered by doctors to be safer than
Aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeds, and ibuprofen, which has also
been linked to heart attacks and strokes.

But in 2013, NAFDAC and the United States Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) had alerted Nigerians that Paracetamol had been associated with
risk of rare but serious skin reactions known as Stevens-Johnson
Syndrome (SJS),Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), andAcute Generalised
Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP)which can be fatal.

To this end, NAFDAC encouraged patients to report such cases to their
health care provider, who will channel the complaint to the National
Pharmaco vigilance Centre,even as British researchers say the risks
may have been underestimated and are calling for a major review to be
conducted into the drug's safety.

Meanwhile,Philip Conaghanwho led an extensive research conducted on
patients who took Paracetamol daily observing its effects advised that
patients being prescribed the drugs for long periods for arthritis or
muscle and joint pain should talk to their doctors about alternative
treatments, such as exercise.