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November 3, 2010 – Acetaminophen (Tylenol® or generics) may increase blood pressure in patients with heart disease in the short term, according to the results of a preliminary study1 published in the newspaper Circulation of the American Heart Association.
The clinical trial was carried out in Switzerland on 33 patients. For 2 weeks, each participant took, in addition to their usual medication, 2 “extra strong” acetaminophen tablets (500 mg each), 3 times a day, or a placebo. The roles were then reversed for another 2 week period.
The researchers observed a systematic rise in systolic (+ 2.3%) and diastolic (+ 3%) blood pressure at a commonly recommended dosage.
The authors of the study conclude that acetaminophen is not as harmless a pain reliever as has been thought and that further studies are needed on its safety.
An analgesic to be taken in moderation
Despite the short duration of the study and its small number of participants, 2 American doctors urge cardiologists, in an editorial2 published in the same medical journal, to review the current use of acetaminophen in heart patients. All the more so, they point out, that it is not known whether the hypertensive effect of acetaminophen would be greater during long-term use.
According to pharmacist Jean-Yves Dionne, “it is striking that blood pressure increased systematically and significantly in all patients during treatment with acetaminophen, despite the fact that the majority of participants were taking drugs that had the effect of countering an increase in blood pressure ”.
People with heart problems should therefore avoid taking acetaminophen on a continuous basis and limit the dosage when it is absolutely necessary to take it, he believes. “Even if it is offered over the counter, this pain reliever is not a treat and it would be wise to use it in moderation,” says Jean-Yves Dionne. He emphasizes that the effect observed during this study was manifested with a dosage in accordance with usual use.
Acetaminophen is known to be devoid of anti-inflammatory action and not to act on platelet aggregation like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Aspirin®, Ibuprofen®, Celebrex®, etc.). For this reason, the American and Canadian medical authorities recommend the use of acetaminophen rather than NSAIDs in the event of pain in subjects at risk of cardiovascular disorders.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. Sudano I, Flammer AJ, Périat D, et al. Acetaminophen Increases Blood Pressure in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease. Circulation. 2010 Oct 18.
2. White WB, Campbell P. Blood pressure destabilization on nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. Acetaminophen exposed?Circulation. 2010 Oct 18.