It's safe to take paracetamol regularly for many years, as long as you do not take more than the recommended dose.
Paracetamol works better as a painkiller if taken regularly every 4-6 hours rather than when taken occasionally or as required. The concentration of the drug slowly builds up in the blood stream and in the body tissues when taken regularly therefore giving more pain relief.
Paracetamol is a common painkiller that is normally safe. If you take more than the recommended amount (an overdose), it can harm the liver, and occasionally the kidneys.
Finally, paracetamol, especially at high doses, may induce upper GI symptoms such as abdominal pain/discomfort, heartburn, nausea or vomiting. Conversely, the risk for ulcers and ulcer complications due to paracetamol is not supported by available data.
Paracetamol overdose is one of the leading causes of liver failure. Scientists have known for decades that paracetamol in large amounts is toxic the liver, but until now its mechanism of poisoning has eluded them.
Side effects of paracetamol
blood disorders, such as thrombocytopenia (low number of platelet cells) and leukopenia (low number of white blood cells) liver and kidney damage, if you take too much (overdose) – this can be fatal in severe cases.
These symptoms include feeling tired, abdominal pain, or nausea. This is typically followed by absence of symptoms for a couple of days, after which yellowish skin, blood clotting problems, and confusion occurs as a result of liver failure.
Reversing liver damage Liver Basics
For example, an overdose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) can destroy half of a person's liver cells in less than a week. Barring complications, the liver can repair itself completely and, within a month, the patient will show no signs of damage.
antidotes to detoxify NAPQI, such as methionine, cysteine, cysteamine, dimercaprol, or acetylcysteine; those that remove paracetamol from the blood after the drug has entered the bloodstream.
Choosing the Right Pain Relief for You
Panadol products contain paracetamol; do not take them with other medicines that also contain paracetamol. Paracetamol is in many medicines to treat pain, fever, symptoms of cold and flu, and sleep medicines.
Intravenous acetylcysteine is the antidote to treat paracetamol overdose and is virtually 100% effective in preventing liver damage when given within 8 hours of the overdose.
Long-term use of paracetamol may also cause heart problems. The systematic review of eight observational studies showed that four found a heightened risk, ranging from 19 to 68 percent, of cardiovascular problems. Higher doses of paracetamol was also associated with heart attack and stroke, according to another study.
Taking 1 or 2 extra tablets is unlikely to harm you. Do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. Taking too much paracetamol can be dangerous and you may need treatment.
Do not use for more than a few days at a time unless your doctor tells you to. Do not take more than the recommended dose unless your doctor tells you to. Do not use PANADOL OSTEO to treat any other complaints unless your pharmacist or doctor tells you to.
Yet paracetamol can cause serious or fatal adverse effects at around 150 mg/kg for many adults. There is considerable inter-patient variability which depends on age, health and substances taken with the paracetamol. The level is higher for young children.
You will have blood tests to check liver function. Liver enzymes will be higher if you have the condition. Your provider will do a physical exam to check for an enlarged liver and abdominal tenderness in the right upper part of the belly area. A rash or fever may be part of some drug reactions that affect the liver.
In severe cases, liver failure means the person will need a liver transplant, or they won't survive. Paracetamol is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the Western world.
Acute liver failure can happen in as little as 48 hours. It's important to seek medical treatment at the first signs of trouble. These signs may include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and discomfort in your right side, just below your ribs.
While acute liver injury can occur when used at or below the recommended daily maximum dose (4000 mg)[4], paracetamol toxicity is often the result of ingestion of paracetamol over this maximum dose.
It's an effective treatment for pain and fever and, at the recommended dose, is generally safe for healthy people. However, repeatedly taking more than the recommended dose or overdosing on paracetamol can cause serious injury to the liver and even death.
Don't stop suddenly
Many people find that they become unwell if they stop taking medication suddenly. This is sometimes called 'going cold turkey'. It's not possible to tell who will be affected, so it's always advised that you slowly reduce your medication very slowly over a period of time.