Columbus, Ohio – Popping Tylenol for those severe headaches can do more than give a little relief from the pain. A new study has found that taking acetaminophen can cause a person to take more risks than otherwise.
Researchers at Ohio State University conducted a series of experiments to see how popular pain reliever affects decision making. While we often hear warnings about how acetaminophen can affect the liver, these latest side effects can cause thrill-seekers to stop.
In one experiment, researchers took 1000 mg of acetaminophen, a 189-year-old college student, the recommended dose for headaches. Some students were inadvertently given a placebo instead of a drug. Once the medication was started, participants were given a list of different events and then everyone thought about how dangerous it was.
The results showed that students who took acetaminophen were more likely to see “bungee jumping off a bridge” or take skydiving classes as less risky than the placebo given. Similarly, “speaking your mind about an unusual issue in a workplace meeting,” changing your career in your mid-30s, and walking home alone at night in a high-crime area was even less risky by people in the acetaminophen group.
‘They just don’t seem so scared’
Baldwin Way, an associate professor of psychology in a university publication, explains: “People who consider risky activities experience less negative feelings of acetaminophen. They just don’t feel scared.” “With about 25 percent of the population in the U.S. taking acetaminophen every week, the risk reduction and increased risk can have significant effects on society.”
Another experiment uses a standard risk assessment to see if the results are true in different circumstances. Once again, 545 students took a dose of either Tylenol or a placebo. After that, participants complete a computer game in which they receive a cash prize for flying a balloon without popping. Students press a button to “inflate” the virtual balloon and receive money as the balloon gets bigger. They can choose to inflate the balloon or collect stops and prizes.
Students given acetaminophen are more at risk of pushing their balloon than playing and taking cash more safely.
“If you’re at risk, you can pump a few times and then decide to make money because you don’t want the balloon to burst and your money lost,” says Way. “But for those who are on acetaminophen, as the balloon gets bigger, we believe they have less anxiety and less negative feelings about how big the balloon is getting and the possibility of it exploding.”
Is acetaminophen safe during coronavirus outbreak?
Way warns that especially in today’s environment, the findings may be more serious than they seem. This is because CDC suggests taking acetaminophen for people experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
“Maybe if a person has mild Covid-1 symptoms, leaving their home and taking acetaminophen, meeting people would not be dangerous.”
The authors also note that the drug is found in more than 600 drugs. It is wise to consult your doctor to determine if any of the prescriptions you have taken contain acetaminophen.
The study is published online in the journal Social cognitive and effective neuroscience.
Like to study Follow us on Facebook!
