Article content
Paracetamol, the main ingredient in many medicines, is today one of the most used over-the-counter pain relievers. Many people take it automatically – they take a tablet whenever they feel the first signs of a headache, and they give it to their children at the slightest sign of fever.
False sense of security
However, do not be fooled by a false sense of reassurance just because you don’t need a prescription for it. This drug can be very harmful – and children are especially at risk. The long-term effects of using paracetamol during pregnancy and childhood have been the subject of several studies that link it to long-term problems in nervous system function.
Although the studies are too varied for a meta-analysis, experts agree that paracetamol is neurotoxic to developing children’s brains. Yet many doctors still recommend using this drug. According to an associate professor at Duke University, Dr. William Parker, many doctors simply are not aware of the existence of studies on the dangers of paracetamol because the drug has been classified as generally safe – a decision that should be reconsidered in light of new evidence.
Paracetamol is also associated with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The male brain is more sensitive to paracetamol
Interestingly, the male brain appears to be more sensitive to paracetamol than the female brain, which could help explain why these disorders are more common in boys than in girls. A study published in the Journal of International Medicine showed that the use of paracetamol by young children and newborns has a much stronger association with autism than use during pregnancy. Scientists believe this is due to young children’s insufficient ability to metabolize drugs in the early stages of development.
The dangers of paracetamol are not limited to the brain
Paracetamol can damage not only children’s brains but is also dangerous for their livers. In fact, paracetamol is the leading cause of liver failure and even a slight exceedance of the recommended dose over a few days can harm this vital organ.
Even if you follow the dosing instructions, it is important to remember that this drug is used in many common cold and flu medicines, so you can overdose on it without realizing it. In addition, you should always avoid taking it on an empty stomach.
Paracetamol also numbs emotions
Taking paracetamol can also blunt your emotions and impair your ability to care about other people. A study published in the Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Journal showed that the drug reduced people’s empathy toward others. Previous studies by the same team also showed that it reduces people’s ability to feel positive emotions. In other words, paracetamol numbs not only pain but also your feelings and can adversely affect your ability to recognize your own cognitive errors.
Conclusion
The effects of paracetamol on the brain and liver are serious, so people should stop treating this drug as harmless and using it so carelessly. The type of pain that often leads people to take paracetamol tends to be at the lower end of the scale and can often be managed with alternative treatments.
Is it really a good idea for parents to teach their children at an early age that taking a pill is enough and the pain will go away? Wouldn’t it be better to equip them with natural approaches to pain relief, such as meditation and exercise, which can serve them throughout life and help them avoid dangerous side effects?
