Paracetamol is the world's most popular pain reliever and is available in many combinations. Used to lower the temperature and relieve cold and flu symptoms. However, you need to be careful because a new study shows that excessive consumption of paracetamol can be fatal to liver function.
Paracetamol has been used since 1955 as a medicine against fever and pain in children and has become very popular, because it has no significant side effects.
A study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and Oslo as well as the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service showed that analgesics cause liver damage at the level of cirrhosis and hepatitis. They found that excessive use of this drug is the leading cause of acute liver inflammation in the western world.
Scientists have studied the effect of paracetamol on liver cells. They found that excessive paracetamol use could impair vital structural connections between neighboring cells in liver tissue. When these connections, which are usually strong, are disrupted, the structure of the liver is damaged and can not function normally. This type of damage includes hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer, but so far has not been linked to paracetamol toxicity.
" For most people around the world, paracetamol is the first choice because it is cheap and effective. However, drug-induced liver damage is a significant clinical problem and challenge for the development of safe drugs. The results of our study reinforce the need for rational use of paracetamol and can help to understand how to prevent damage to its use, " said Dr. Leonard Nelson, co-author of the study.
People often take it lightly and think that paracetamol is not a problem, if they take a few tablets more than the recommended daily dose.
Next time you start taking paracetamol, think about it.
