But several recent studies have linked regular use of the drug to liver failure, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal bleeding and heart disease \u2013 and even to issues such as tinnitus and developmental problems such as autism and ADHD<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some doctors now say that, while it might be fine to take a couple of paracetamol to combat a headache or any kind of pain that will pass quickly, it should not be used regularly \u2013 and certainly not for longer than a few weeks at a time \u2013 because it can cause liver damage, even at the \u2018safe\u2019 dose.<\/p>\n Professor Andrew Moore, a member of the respected Cochrane Collaboration\u2019s Pain, Palliative Care and Supportive Care group \u2013 which analyses evidence from international research \u2013 writing in online publication The Conversation, said that the \u2018conventional view\u2019 that paracetamol is safe and a \u2018go-to\u2019 treatment for pain was \u2018probably wrong\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018[The studies] we have tell us that paracetamol use is associated with increased rates of death, heart attack, stomach bleeding and kidney failure,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n \u2018Paracetamol is known to cause liver failure in overdose but it also causes liver failure in people taking standard doses for pain relief. The risk is only about one in a million, but it is a risk. All these different risks stack up.\u2019<\/p>\n Dozens of studies have already linked paracetamol, known as acetaminophen in the US, to two neuropsychiatric conditions<\/p>\n His views are echoed by GPs, including Doncaster-based GP Dr Dean Eggitt, who adds: \u2018People think paracetamol is harmless because it\u2019s easy to get so people take it like Smarties. But even if you\u2019re not exceeding the recommended amount in one day, you can still overdose.\u2019<\/p>\n The dose considered \u2018safe\u2019 is 4g a day, the equivalent of taking two 500mg tablets four times in a 24-hour period.<\/p>\n But even just slightly exceeding the recommended dose every day for 10 days or more could be enough to cause permanent liver and kidney damage, Dr Eggitt has warned.<\/p>\n Reviews of the evidence also suggest that paracetamol is not even as effective as people think for pain relief.<\/p>\n \u2018For postoperative pain, perhaps one in four people benefit,\u2019 Prof Moore writes. \u2018For headache, perhaps one in ten. These are robust and trustworthy results. If paracetamol works for you, that\u2019s great. But for most, it won\u2019t.\u2019<\/p>\n So what does the evidence say, and are you taking too much?<\/p>\n How paracetamol can damage the liver\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s a startling fact: paracetamol is the leading cause of acute liver failure in adults.<\/p>\n In general, studies suggest taking nearly twice the daily recommended dose \u2013 around 7.5g \u2013 in 24 hours is enough to cause toxicity in the liver in some people.<\/p>\n This is because, as paracetamol is broken down in the body, it produces a toxic by-product called NAPQI. At low doses, or if just a couple of pills are needed to treat a headache, this doesn\u2019t cause an issue as it can be neutralised by a protective substance called glutathione.<\/p>\n But at high doses, or if paracetamol is taken over a longer period, the liver can become overwhelmed, which means it can\u2019t produce enough glutathione and damage can occur.<\/p>\n Some studies have found taking even slightly over the recommended dose for several days in a row can also lead to liver failure. The risk is particularly acute in people who are underweight, who drink alcohol or who already have some form of liver disease.<\/p>\n Prof Moore says part of the problem is that most people don\u2019t know how much they\u2019re using. He points out that soluble cold remedy products such as Lemsip or Beechams also contain paracetamol \u2013 so if these are being taken alongside paracetamol tablets it can easily lead to an accidental overdose.<\/p>\n Paracetamol might not even work for chronic pain<\/p>\n Several studies have shown that over-the-counter painkillers, including paracetamol, have little effect for conditions such as back pain and osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n In fact, the UK\u2019s medicines watchdog, NICE, revised its guidelines in 2020 to say that paracetamol should not be used for chronic pain because of a lack of evidence that it worked \u2013 and that it could cause harm, such as liver toxicity, kidney damage and gastrointestinal issues,<\/a> if taken regularly.<\/p>\n Studies looking at lower back pain and osteoarthritis specifically found it was \u2018no better than placebo\u2019 and did not improve quality of life.<\/p>\n Even the ‘right’ dose can raise your blood pressure\u00a0\u2013 especially if you’re a woman<\/p>\n Paracetamol is often recommended as a \u2018safer\u2019 alternative to ibuprofen and other painkillers known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, which are known to increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease if taken regularly.<\/p>\n But multiple studies now show that paracetamol may, in fact, have a similar effect \u2013 although the evidence is less consistent than for NSAIDs.<\/p>\n One 2022 study at the University of Edinburgh gave 110 patients with a history of high blood pressure the standard dose of paracetamol \u2013 two 500mg tablets, taken four times a day \u2013 over a two-week period. They were also given placebo tablets over a separate two-week period.<\/p>\n The researchers found their was a noticeable rise in their blood pressure during the period they were given paracetamol.<\/p>\n Another large US study also found chronic paracetamol use was associated with twice the risk of high blood pressure in women.<\/p>\n Raised blood pressure over time is linked with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.<\/p>\n Weiya Zhang, professor of epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, said: \u2018Although we don\u2019t fully know how paracetamol works, we think it may target some of the same pain receptors as NSAIDs. So, mechanistically, it\u2019s possible it could cause a rise in blood pressure like NSAIDs are known to do.\u2019<\/p>\n Paracetamol is still recommended to treat short-term pain in people with high blood pressure \u2013 but NHS and NICE guidelines recommend anyone with cardiovascular problems should take it at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest amount of time.<\/a><\/p>\n Could paracetamol be causing the ringing in your ears?<\/p>\n One in ten people suffer from tinnitus \u2013 a condition that involves hearing a ringing or buzzing noise which is not actually caused by any external source.<\/p>\n![\"Dozens](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/101459957-0-Dozens_of_studies_have_already_linked_paracetamol_known_as_aceta-a-1_1757601574429.jpg\")
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