A lot is being talked about paracetamol and its effect. This common pill which is taken to prevent headaches does more harm than good. It is considered safe, cheap and effective, and this is what makes it popular.
However, there are certain risks people need to be careful about.
“Acetaminophen seems to make people feel less negative emotion when they consider risky activities – they just don’t feel as scared,” The Sun quoted neuroscientist Prof Baldwin Way from Ohio State University when the findings were published, in 2020.
In the study, published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience journal, over 500 people were studied and the researchers tested how 1000 mg of acetaminophen affected risk-taking behaviour. The findings were compared to a placebo group that received a fake pill.
To examine the impact of the drug on the individuals, the researchers asked them to pump an inflatable balloon on a computer screen, earning imaginary money for each pump. However, they would lose all their earnings if the balloon popped.
They used the Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART), a psychological assessment tool used to measure risk-taking behavior. In this computer-based task, participants inflate a virtual balloon by pressing a button. Each pump increases the potential reward, but also the risk of the balloon bursting, which results in losing accumulated earnings for that trial. The task mimics real-life decision-making under uncertainty, assessing impulsivity and risk tolerance. BART is widely used in behavioral psychology, addiction studies, and decision-making research. It helps understand how individuals weigh potential rewards against risks, providing insights into impulsive behaviors, financial choices, and even mental health conditions.
The researchers found that individuals who took the pain killer were more likely to take risks. “If you’re risk-averse, you may pump a few times and then decide to cash out because you don’t want the balloon to burst and lose your money,” Baldwin told the media. “But for those who are on acetaminophen, as the balloon gets bigger, we believe they have less anxiety and less negative emotion about how big the balloon is getting and the possibility of it bursting.”
Other side effects of paracetamol
Paracetamol is generally safe when used correctly, but excessive or prolonged use can lead to side effects. Common mild effects include nausea, stomach pain, and allergic reactions like skin rashes. Overuse or overdose can cause severe liver damage, leading to jaundice, liver failure, or even death in extreme cases. Rare but serious side effects include kidney damage, low blood cell count, and breathing difficulties. Individuals with liver disease, alcohol dependency, or those taking multiple medications should be cautious.
To avoid risks, always follow the recommended dosage and consult a doctor if symptoms persist or unusual reactions occur after taking paracetamol.
