New evidence suggests that U.S. One of the most widely used medications in the world – and the most widely used analgesic in the world – can do much more than just relieve your headaches, new evidence suggests.
Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol and widely sold under brand names Tylenol and Panadol, also increases the risk, according to a general study, when people’s behavior changes under the influence of common over-the-counter drugs.
“People experience less negative acetaminophen when they consider risky activities,” says Baldwin Way, a neuroscientist at Osio State University. “
“With approximately 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.”
The findings suggest that recent research into the effects of acetaminophen on reducing pain in the body extends to a variety of psychological processes, hurting people’s senses, reducing sensations, and even disrupting cognitive functions.
Similarly, new research suggests that people may lose their positive ability to understand and evaluate risks when taking acetaminophen. While the effects may be a bit minimal, it is certainly worth considering, given that acetaminophen is the most common drug ingredient in America, found in over 600 different types of over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
In a series of experiments involving more than 500 university students as participants, Way and his team measured how a 1000 mg dose of acetaminophen (recommended maximum adult single dose) rarely affected participants’ risk-taking behavior, compared to placebo Is with. For the control group.
In each experiment, participants had to pull an unfiltered balloon onto a computer screen, with each pump earning imaginary money. Their instructions were to make as much imaginary money as possible by pumping the balloon as much as possible, but make sure not to pop the balloon, in which case they would lose money.
The results showed that students who took acetaminophen were significantly more at risk during exercise than those in the more cautious and concomitant placebo group. Overall, people on acetaminophen pumped (and burst) more than their balloon controls.
“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 to be lost,” says Way.
“But for those who are on acetaminophen, as the balloon gets bigger, we believe they are less anxious and less negative about how big the balloon is getting and the possibility of it exploding.”
In addition to balloon simulation, participants also took surveys during two experiments, determining the level of risk in various fantasy scenarios such as betting on a day’s income in a sports program, jumping off a bungee tall bridge, or driving. A car without a seatbelt.
In one survey, acetaminophen consumption was found to lower the perceived risk compared to the control group, although in another similar survey, the same effect was not observed.
Overall, however, based on the average results of various tests, the team concludes that there is a significant relationship between taking acetaminophen and choosing a higher risk, if the observed effect may be even smaller.
That said, they acknowledge that the drug’s obvious effects on risk-taking behaviors can also be interpreted through other types of psychological processes, such as anxiety reduction.
“It could be that as the size of the balloon increases, people on the placebo become more concerned about a possible explosion.”
“When the discomfort is too great, they end the trial. Acetaminophen reduces this discomfort, thus resulting in more risk-taking.”
Exploring such psychological alternatives to this phenomenon – as well as investigating the biological mechanisms responsible for the effect of acetaminophen on people’s preferences in such situations – should be considered in future research, the team says.
While they are on it, scientists will also have future opportunities to further investigate the role and effectiveness of acetaminophen in pain relief, after recent studies have found that in many medical circumstances, the drug may be ineffective on pain relief. , And sometimes in addition to inviting other types of health problems, is no better than a placebo.
Despite the seriousness of these findings, acetaminophen is one of the most widely used drugs in the world, considered essential by the World Health Organization, and is recommended by the CDC as a primary medicine that you should probably take to ease symptoms, if you need to. Seems to be coronavirus
In light of what we are finding out about acetaminophen, we want to reconsider some of that advice, Way says.
“Leaving someone with mild covid-19 symptoms at home and meeting people if they are taking acetaminophen does not seem dangerous,” says Way.
“We really need more research into the effects of acetaminophen and other over-the-counter drugs on the choices and risks we take.”
These findings are reported Social cognitive and effective neuroscience.
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