According to a new study, published in the journal Circulation, individuals with high blood pressure who take prescription paracetamol could have an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes.

The study looked at 110 volunteers, with two-thirds of them taking drugs for high blood pressure. The randomized trial allocated them to take 1g of paracetamol four times a day or placebo for two weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period and then crossing over to the alternate treatment.

Paracetamol was shown to increase the blood pressure of study participants. Regular intake of 4 g paracetamol increased systolic BP in people with hypertension by ≈5 mmHg in comparison with placebo.

The investigators advised that patients with chronic pain should be started on as low a dose of paracetamol as possible and patients with high blood pressure and at risk of heart disease should be closely monitored… (BBC, February 8, 2022; Circulation February 7, 2022)