Paracetamol Fails Safety Check In India, Research Shows Tablet's Link With Liver Damage

Paracetamol Fails Quality Test: The over-the-counter drug is a household name in India and is most commonly given to patients suffering from fever and body aches. A sample of the painkiller, along with 50 other medicines, has been flagged by the country's central drug regulatory authority as "not of standard quality" in its latest report. The list also includes other common medicines like Pan D and Shelcaul.

However, risks related to Paracetamol are not new. In several studies before this, medicine has raised concerns about doing more harm than good. Although, these studies suggested that balanced doses of the medicine would not cause much harm.

A study links Paracetamol with liver damage 

Earlier in February this year, Researchers at the University of Edinburgh linked the usage of the medicine with liver damage. The tablets which are known to be a quick and effective way of getting over pain and fever, were found to be harmful if taken in excess. In a study conducted on mice, the researchers found paracetamol interfering with the structural junctions, essential for the proper functioning of the organ.

The study said, as quoted by Firstpost, “Scientists at the University of Edinburgh studied the impact of paracetamol on liver cells in human and mouse tissue, and tests showed that in certain settings, paracetamol can damage the liver by harming vital structural connections between adjacent cells in the organ." The study added, “Scientists at the University of Edinburgh studied the impact of paracetamol on liver cells in human and mouse tissue, and tests showed that in certain settings, paracetamol can damage the liver by harming vital structural connections between adjacent cells in the organ."  

Other health risks linked to paracetamol 

The publication also mentioned that four grams of paracetamol a day is a ‘normal dose' for ‘patients with chronic pain’. The study was even backed by the findings published in the Guardian of The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning against paracetamol. The FDA warned against the usage of the tablet which it linked with causing severe skin conditions that could even lead to death.
 

Paracetamol's harmful effects on pregnant women. Researchers at the University of Bristol published a study in 2019 that linked the consumption of the drug with potential behavioural and cognitive outcomes such as hyperactivity and attention problems in the newborns. As per Firstpost, lead author Jean Golding said, “Our findings add to a series of results concerning evidence of the possible adverse effects of taking paracetamol during pregnancy such as issues with asthma or behaviour in the offspring. It reinforces the advice that women should be cautious when taking medication during pregnancy and to seek medical advice where necessary."

A 2022 study also linked the medicine to high Blood pressure issues. While most of these studies have raised a caution only when the medicine is used for a prolonged time, the latest quality test failure has made the Indian user wary of the over-the-counter tablet.