TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Paracetamol is a medication to relieve pain and help treat minor disorders and chronic conditions. Its popularity is mainly due to the fact that the drug is cheap, safe, and effective.
However, the intake of certain drinks that are not right can trigger side effects potentially lethal. Paracetamol should be used with caution if you have certain health conditions, such as liver problems. Scientists are also concerned about possible side effects from long-term use, such as internal bleeding.
The British health agency (NHS) also warned that mixing drugs with certain drinks containing ethanol could be fatal. The reason is that ethanol, the active ingredient in alcohol, can cause potentially lethal liver damage when combined with paracetamol, warns the health watchdog Drugs. The chemical can be found in certain foods as well, generally in smaller concentrations.
“This can cause serious side effects that affect the liver,” the NHS warns Express.
Call your doctor right away if you have fever, chills, joint pain or swelling, excessive tiredness or weakness, unusual bleeding or bruising, rash or itching of the skin, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. According to one of the papers published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, reports of increased paracetamol hepatotoxicity in chronic alcoholics.
“These individuals not only carry an increased risk of severe and fatal liver damage following acute overdose, but similar serious liver damage can occur with therapeutic use,” the researchers wrote.
Elsewhere in the paper, the team noted that it was difficult to accept a single and repeated daily dose of 1-3 grams could cause severe and fatal liver damage in alcoholics. They explained that 5-8 percent of the therapeutic dose of paracetamol is usually converted to toxic metabolites. However, a single dose of about 15 grams is usually sufficient to trigger a liver reaction, the authors explain.
Medical News Today Added hepatotoxic reactions usually occur when acetaminophen and alcohol are taken together in high doses. This is because the liver is responsible for breaking down acetaminophen and alcohol. The NHS insists it is generally safe to consume small amounts of alcohol while taking pain relievers.
“Drinking small amounts of alcohol while taking paracetamol or ibuprofen is usually safe. Paracetamol should be used with caution if you have certain health conditions, such as liver problems.”
Manufacturers currently recommend that people who drink more than three bottles of alcoholic beverages per day should ask a doctor before taking acetaminophen. Other possible side effects of combining alcohol and acetaminophen include stomach upset, bleeding, ulcers, and a fast heartbeat.
Foods that interfere with the absorption of paracetamol may also include those high in pectin, carbohydrates, and various types of vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage. What’s more, hibiscus tea can also reduce effectiveness drug. In one small study it was found that hibiscus tea lowered levels of acetaminophen, especially when the drug was taken after tea. However, it is not entirely clear whether the reduction is clinically significant.
Also read: Signs and Symptoms of Paracetamol Overdose Body
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