One of the most widely used drugs in the United States, and the most commonly used painkiller in the world, could be doing so much more than just eliminate the headache, recent tests suggest.
Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol and widely sold under the brands Tylenol and Panadol, also increases risk-taking, according to a September 2020 study that measured changes in people’s behavior when under the influence. of over-the-counter medication.
“Acetaminophen seems to make people feel less negative emotions when they consider risky activities; they’re just not afraid,” Ohio State University’s neuroscientist Baldwin Way said in September 2020.
“With about 25 percent of the U.S. population taking acetaminophen each week, reducing risk perceptions and increasing risk-taking can have significant effects on society.”
The findings add to recent research suggesting that the effects of acetaminophen on pain reduction also extend to various psychological processes, reducing people’s receptivity to hurt feelings, experiencing reduced empathy, and even dismantling cognitive functions.
Similarly, recent research suggests that people’s affective ability to perceive and assess risks may be impaired when they take paracetamol. While the effects can be mild, it’s definitely worth noting, as acetaminophen is the most common pharmacological ingredient in America, found in more than 600 different types of over-the-counter and over-the-counter medications.
In a series of experiments involving more than 500 college students as participants, Way and his team measured a single dose of 1,000 mg acetaminophen (the maximum recommended single dose for adults) randomly assigned to participants. affected their risk behavior, compared with placebos given randomly to a control group.
In each of the experiments, participants had to pump an uninflated balloon onto the computer screen, and each bomb earned imaginary money. His instructions were to make as much imaginary money as possible by pumping the balloon as far as possible, but make sure not to blow up the balloon, in which case they would lose money.
The results showed that students who took acetaminophen were committed to taking significant risks during exercise, compared to the more prudent and conservative placebo group. In general, those taking acetaminophen pumped (and exploded) balloons rather than controls.
“If you have risk aversion, you can make bombs a few times and then decide to withdraw money because you don’t want the balloon to explode and you lose your money,” Way said.
“But for those taking acetaminophen, as the balloon gets bigger, we think they have less anxiety and less negative emotions about the size of the balloon and the possibility of it exploding.”
In addition to the balloon simulation, participants also completed surveys during two of the experiments, assessing the level of risk they perceived in various hypothetical scenarios, such as betting on one-day income at a sporting event, jumping from bungee from a high bridge or driving a car without a seat belt.
In one of the surveys, acetaminophen use appeared to reduce the perceived risk compared to the control group, although in another similar survey the same effect was not observed.
Overall, however, based on an average of the results of the different tests, the team concludes that there is a significant relationship between taking acetaminophen and choosing more risk, even if the observed effect may be mild.
That said, they recognize that the apparent effects of the drug on risk-taking behavior could also be interpreted through other types of psychological processes, such as perhaps reducing anxiety.
“It may be that as the balloon increases in size, those with placebo feel more and more anxious about a potential explosion,” the researchers explain.
“When anxiety becomes excessive, they finish the test. Acetaminophen can reduce that anxiety, which carries a higher risk of taking it.”
The exploration of these alternative psychological explanations for this phenomenon, as well as the investigation of the biological mechanisms responsible for the effects of acetaminophen on people’s decisions in situations like this, should be addressed in future research. say the team.
While they are there, scientists will also have future opportunities to further investigate the role and effectiveness of acetaminophen in pain relief, following studies in recent years that in many medical settings the drug may be ineffective in relieving pain. , and sometimes no better than a placebo, in addition to inviting other types of health problems.
Despite the severity of these findings, acetaminophen remains one of the most widely used drugs in the world, considered an essential drug by the World Health Organization and recommended by the CDC as the main drug you should probably take to relieve symptoms. if you think you may have coronavirus.
In light of what we’re discovering about acetaminophen, we might want to rethink some of these tips, Way said.
“Maybe someone with mild symptoms of COVID-19 may not think it’s as risky to leave home and meet people if they take acetaminophen,” Way said.
“We really need more research on the effects of acetaminophen and other over-the-counter medications on the decisions and risks we make.”
The findings are reported in Social cognitive and affective neurosciences.
A version of this article was first published in September 2020.