Repeated paracetamol use linked to side effects in patients over 65

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By Olivia Bowthorpe

Repeated use of paracetamol in people aged 65 and older is linked to a higher risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and kidney complications, according to a study.

"Despite its perceived safety, paracetamol is associated with several serious complications," Professor Weiya Zhang, epidemiologist at the University of Nottingham, and colleagues wrote in Arthritis Care & Research.¹

"Given its minimal analgesic effectiveness, paracetamol as the first-line oral analgesic option for long-term conditions in older people requires careful reconsideration," they added.

The researchers analysed data on 180,483 paracetamol exposed and 402,478 unexposed participants from the UK's Clinical Practice Research Datalink. All were aged 65 years or above and those 'exposed' were prescribed paracetamol at least twice within a 6-month period.

Those prescribed paracetamol had 24% higher rate of gastrointestinal perforation, ulceration or bleeding, a 20% higher rate of peptic ulcers, and a 36% higher rate of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Their rate of heart failure was 9% higher, hypertension 7% higher, and chronic kidney disease 19% higher than among those not prescribed paracetamol.