The study, which consisted of monitoring 22 treatments that combined different doses of paracetamol and seven anti-inflammatory drugs, showed that paracetamol did not show “clinically significant efficacy,” even though it is “slightly better than a placebo“, it is shown in a report published by the medical journal The Lancet, quoted by the France Presse agency.
Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, inflammation, stiffness and loss of joint function. It affects almost 10% of men and 18% of women over 60.
The most effective pain medication associated with osteoarthritis has been shown to be diclofenac anti-inflammatory. at a dose of 150 mg / day, compared to other anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen or celecoxib.
However, these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cannot be prescribed in the long term due to their significant side effects (digestive, skin or heart disorders).
“Therefore, paracetamol is often preferred over nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for long-term pain management, even though our results suggest that it is not effective, regardless of dose, for relieving pain in osteoarthritis,” said Dr. Sven Trelle of the University of Bern. who led the study.
When paracetamol is ineffective – Researchers’ warnings
The research consisted of studying data from nearly 60,000 patients who participated in clinical trials whose results were published between 1980 and 2015.
Medical recommendations today in most countries are to initially prescribe paracetamol to patients with osteoarthritis and, if necessary, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
In comments to the study, Professor Nicholas Moore of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Bordeaux, revealed that the result is not completely unexpected (…), the effectiveness of paracetamol has never been established or quantified, strictly speaking, in chronic diseases and being probably inferior to what many imagine. “
The safety of his administration also raises questions and not only about taking an overdose, he added.
In overdose, paracetamol is very toxic to the liver and can also exceptionally have cutaneous or hematological effects at lower doses, notes AFP.
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