Paracetamol is a common pain reliever used to alleviate aches and pains or high temperatures. Most people, including pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, can safely take paracetamol.
However, some people should use caution when using paracetamol because excessive usage can cause liver damage, liver failure, and death and can also affect your cognitive function.
In the first twenty-four hours following a paracetamol overdose, the majority of individuals experience little or non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue, abdominal pain, and nausea.
This is usually followed by a few days without any symptoms, after which liver failure causes yellowish skin, blood clotting issues, and confusion.
Overuse of paracetamol can produce severe dry eyes, which can have a detrimental impact on a person’s life.
What exactly is dry eye?
Dry eye is a condition in which the tear film fails to function properly due to a reduction in the quantity or quality of the pre-corneal tear film.
This causes dry or burning eyes, as well as a “sandy” or “gritty” foreign body sensation.
Certain medicines are known to have an indirect effect on the autonomic nervous system, which regulates liquid secretion and causes dry eyes.
Beta-blockers, antihistamines, antidepressants, and paracetamols are all known to exacerbate this.
Paracetamol is the most commonly overdosed pharmaceutical.
An overdose of the medication can cause liver failure over several days, which can be fatal.
Link between dry eyes and paracetamol
The effect of paracetamol on tear production was investigated in 100 young healthy volunteers utilizing their right eyes. There were 40 males and 60 women among the participants.
Tear secretion was evaluated to see if the medicine had any effect on the eyes.
The average baseline tear secretion was determined to be 25.63mm.
“These reductions were found to be statistically significant showing that paracetamol significantly inhibits tear production,” the study wrote.
It concluded: “Paracetamol therefore has an inhibitory effect on tear production of healthy individuals, and it is suggested that it be used with care in patients that have dry eye syndrome or are predisposed to it.”
What you can do to relieve dry eyes?
- Change your environment
- Eat more fatty fish in your diet
- Use warm compresses then wash your eyelids
- Stay away from cigarette smoke
- Take regular breaks if straining your eyes for long periods.
Long-term paracetamol use has also been associated with increased blood pressure.
One study tracked 110 participants, two-thirds of whom were on blood pressure medication, or hypertension.
For two weeks, participants were given 1g of paracetamol four times a day, a normal dose for people with chronic pain, followed by two weeks of dummy pills, or placebo.
According to the findings, paracetamol raises blood pressure, therefore doctors should start patients with chronic pain on the lowest dose possible and monitor individuals with high blood pressure or who are at risk of heart disease.
Kidney failure, pancreatitis, low blood sugar, and lactic acidosis are all possible consequences.
According to the CDC, individuals should take one or two 500mg pills up to four times in 24 hours.
Between dosages, wait at least four hours.
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