Despite its perceived safety, acetaminophen is associated with several serious complications. Given its minimal analgesic effectiveness, acetaminophen as the first-line oral analgesic option for long-term conditions in older people requires careful reconsideration.
Patients aged 65 years and older who use acetaminophen demonstrate greater risks for serious complications, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease and gastrointestinal bleeding, noted a study published in Arthritis Care & Research.
Acetaminophen can cause cyclooxygenase (COX)–dependent side effects analogous to those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). acetaminophen exposure was associated with an increased incidence of PUB, uncomplicated peptic ulcers, lower GI bleed, heart failure, hypertension, and chronic renal failure.
“These data further challenge whether acetaminophen should be retained as the first-line oral analgesic, especially in older people for common chronic painful conditions, given its non-clinically meaningful benefits and potential harms, and support the recent recommendation by [the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] not to prescribe acetaminophen for OA,”
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⚡อ่านเพิ่มเติม
Incidence of Side Effects Associated With Acetaminophen in People Aged 65 Years or More: A Prospective Cohort Study Using Data From the Clinical Practice Research Datalink