The medicine, which is very popular in Brazilian homes, can cause dangerous complications to the human body if used excessively.
In Brazil, the paracetamol occupies the 19th position among the best-selling drugs. This medicine, easily available in pharmacies and purchasable without a prescription, is a great ally in relieving, for example, headaches, cramps and fever. However, despite its effectiveness and wide availability, you take too much acetaminophen can cause serious health problems. Meet some of them:
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WHY IS IT HARMFUL TO TAKE AN EXCESS OF PARACETAMOL?
Studies conducted in recent years show that the drug is the main culprit liver failure up to 5% of disease cases in the United States. In the UK, this number reaches 60% of diagnoses. As for Brazil, according to data from the Unicamp Toxicological Information and Assistance Center, the intoxications due to the rampant use of the drug it had a 44% increase between 2020 and 2021.
A Dr. Nathalie by Paula Damiãofamily and community doctor and professor of Medicine at the Positive University (UP), explains that paracetamol contains some substances which, depending on the body, may not be adequately metabolised by the liver, with consequent damage to liver cells.
” If consumed in an exaggerated way, this medicine can lead to a picture of acute hepatotoxicitywhich can progress to liver failure AND organ failure“, explains the specialist.
kidney problems, allergies and other complications can also arise due to an excess of acetaminophen. “Some people may develop allergic reactions, such as skin wounds, itching, swelling AND respiratory difficultiesin addition to influencing the glutathione productionan important antioxidant for cellular health AND liver function“.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE REMEDY
Although it has been one of the most widely used drugs in the world for decades, several scientists have already declared it the mechanism of action of paracetamol is not yet fully understood. However, Dr. Nathalia clarifies that it continues to be widely used as an analgesic, as it has been shown to be really effective combat mild to moderate pain in many people.
It also highlights others good points of paracetamolBetween them:
- Safety: When used at the recommended doses, it is safe and has low incidence of side effects compared to other analgesics.
- Action on the nervous system: Influences the perception of pain and the regulation of body temperature;
- Low anti-inflammatory activity: It can be useful in cases where there is no need to treat inflammation;
- Variety of forms of administration: In pills, capsules, liquids and suppositories;
- Great availability;
Furthermore, although its mechanism of action has not been clarified, paracetamol has already made its mark Proven results through controlled clinical trialsin which the drug is compared to a group receiving a placebo or other active intervention.
“In these evaluations, acetaminophen was shown to be more effective than placebo at relieving pain. However, it is important to remember that the effectiveness of the medicine can vary between individuals and the type of pain. Some people may respond better to the medicine than others,” he recalls.
In certain pain or fever situations, the specialist points out that there are a number of other drugs more interesting than paracetamol. The appropriate option depends on kind of pain, severity of symptoms AND individual medical condition of the patient.
“Some remedies often considered alternatives include anti-inflammatories, opioids AND other painkillers. Bearing in mind that the choice of drug must be made by a healthcare worker” concludes Natalie.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
