The older we get, the more often we notice little aches and pains. Maybe your neck feels tight when you wake up in the morning, or your knee starts throbbing after a long walk. For the most part, these are harmless and nothing that can't be fixed with a little Tylenol. But a new study is cautioning those over 65 to think twice before reaching for common pain relievers containing acetaminophen, as they are "associated with several serious complications."
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Repeated acetaminophen doses in people 65+ increased the risk of several health conditions.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham in England completed the study, which was published in the journal Arthritis Care and Research. It looked at the effect of oral acetaminophen (commonly known by the brand Tylenol) doses in people 65 and older.
Researchers concluded that when taken repeatedly for conditions such as chronic pain or osteoarthritis, acetaminophen (or paracetamol, as it's known in the U.K.) led to an increased risk of peptic ulcers, heart failure, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease.
To arrive at their findings, the researchers analyzed the health records of 180,483 people aged 65 and over (with an average age of 75) who were prescribed acetaminophen two or more times within a six-month period. Their data was compared to 402,478 people of the same age who were never prescribed the pain reliever repeatedly.
"Due to its perceived safety, paracetamol has long been recommended as the first line drug treatment for osteoarthritis by many treatment guidelines, especially in older people who are at higher risk of drug-related complications," said Weiya Zhang, PhD, professor of epidemiology at the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, in a press release.
"Whilst further research is now needed to confirm our findings, given its minimal pain-relief effect, the use of paracetamol as a first line pain killer for long-term conditions such as osteoarthritis in older people needs to be carefully considered," Zhang added.
It should be noted that the study tracked prescription acetaminophen and not over-the-counter drugs. Furthermore, it did not account for participants' other risk factors, such as obesity or smoking.
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Acetaminophen vs. Ibuprofen
"Acetaminophen is well-known for its liver toxicity, but there are other side effects as well, as this study suggests," noted Marc Siegel, MD, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and senior medical analyst at Fox News, in speaking with Fox News Digital.
Siegel, who was not involved in the study, explained that, historically, "anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen" were the ones known for "adverse GI side effects."
In fact, the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) says, "If you're over 65, ibuprofen can make you more likely to get stomach ulcers. Your doctor will prescribe you a medicine to protect your stomach if you're taking ibuprofen for a long-term condition."
However, Siegel pointed out that there is now evidence to suggest that acetaminophen reacts similarly to ibuprofen (commonly known as Advil) in our bodies: "It is generally accepted doctrine that acetaminophen is not associated with GI bleeding or advancing kidney disease, but the thinking is starting to change on this front."
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Previous studies have linked acetaminophen to heart issues.
This is not the first study to link acetaminophen to heart issues, and previous research shows that such complications could occur at any age.
First, a 2022 study published in the journal Circulation found that, when taken regularly, acetaminophen can raise the blood pressure of those who already have hypertension.
Earlier this year, a separate study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society. Using a mouse model, the researchers saw that a 500 mg dose of acetaminophen (equivalent to an extra-strength Tylenol) yielded "significant changes" in heart tissue proteins.
"We were surprised by the findings since we predicted that acetaminophen, when used at these concentrations, would have minimal effects on the heart," Gabriela Del Toro Rivera, a doctoral student in the laboratory of Aldrin Gomes, PhD, at the University of California, Davis, and the first author of this study, told Medical News Today at the time.
"While existing literature primarily associates acetaminophen overuse with liver damage, our research suggests that acetaminophen may influence tissues beyond the liver," she added.
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Tylenol's response
In an emailed statement to Best Life, a Tylenol spokesperson shared the following response to the study:
As a company firmly rooted in science, we support scientific discovery and exploration through research. However, we found the paper exhibits several methodological issues and lacks adequate scientific rigor to make conclusions.
TYLENOL, in which acetaminophen is the active ingredient, is indicated to temporarily relieve minor aches and pains and reduce fever. TYLENOL has more than 60 years of clinical use to support its safety and efficacy. When taken as directed, TYLENOL has one of the most favorable safety profiles among pain relievers.
We stand behind the safety of our acetaminophen products and continue to believe TYLENOL is an appropriate pain relief option for people over age 65.
The takeaway.
When taken regularly, pain relievers containing acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol) could lead to an increased risk of peptic ulcers, heart failure, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease in people 65 and older, according to a new paper.
Additional research suggests that regular acetaminophen use can also alter heart function regardless of age.
If you are considering taking any new pain reliever, always speak to your healthcare provider first.
