PARACETAMOL AND BLOOD PRESSURE

The belief that paracetamol has no effect on blood pressure (in contrast to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may be mistaken. In a crossover study, 110 people with hypertension were randomised either to paracetamol or placebo for two weeks before a washout period, followed by a switch of treatment. Twenty-fourhour ambulatory blood pressure measurements showed an increase of around 5mmHg in systolic pressure while people were taking the paracetamol. Research continues.