Paracetamol is a well-known medication for pain reduction and relief. With decades of proven efficacy, these tablets provide immediate relief without trouble. However, scientists have issued a serious health caution to anyone who habitually takes paracetamol. A new study conducted by a team at the University of Edinburgh examined the effects of the medicine on mice and concluded that it causes live damage. According to the team, the discovery could help guide research into remedies to mitigate the drug’s side effects. Researchers cautioned that these effects arise in people who take an excessive amount of the medication. For people with chronic pain, a daily dose of four grams of paracetamol is appropriate.
This is the first study to link paracetamol toxicity to liver damage
“Scientists at the University of Edinburgh studied the impact of paracetamol on liver cells in human and mouse tissue, and tests showed that in certain settings paracetamol can damage the liver by harming vital structural connections between adjacent cells in the organ,” the study said. “When these cell wall connections – known as tight junctions – are disrupted, the liver tissue structure is damaged, cells are unable to function properly and they may die,” it added. This is the first study to link paracetamol toxicity to liver damage, which is similar to what occurs in illnesses such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports and included researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Oslo, as well as the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.