Common Painkiller May Cause Acute Gastric Injury

The pain reliever acetaminophen is not free of gastrointestinal side effects at high doses, according to a new study.

Analgesics, NSAIDs and acetaminophen, are commonly used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains.

Effects on Gastro-Intestinal System
Chemotherapy may affect the mouth,stomach and the intestine of the patient leading to several side effects

The gastrointestinal side effects of NSAIDs are well documented and acetaminophen is accepted to be a safe drug for the gastrointestinal system.

Acute effects of short-term, especially high-dose NSAID and acetaminophen use have not been studied adequately.

Now, Dr. Alis Soylu and colleagues Dr. Sadi Konuk and Dr. Lutfi Kirdar at Kartal Research and Training Hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey, studied 50 patients admitted to the emergency department with high dose analgesic, acetaminophen, ingestion with suicidal intent.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
This condition occurs due to the reflux of hydrochloric acid of the stomach into the oesophagus

Thirty patients with or without mild complaints of dyspepsia, indigestion, were selected as the control group.

The study results indicate that gastric lesions were similar between the groups, thus acetaminophen is not free of gastrointestinal side effects at high doses, the researchers said.

Reflux Esophagitis
Animation and slide show on Reflux esophagitis showing the mechanism of acid from the stomach causing heartburn and other symptoms.

The study may be useful in evaluating the gastrointestinal complications of acute high dose acetaminophen use.

Contrary to current convictions, high-dose acetaminophen may also cause endoscopic acute gastric damage, the researchers said.

The findings are published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Source-ANI
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