New danger from paracetamol: metabolic acidosis threatens!

New danger from paracetamol: metabolic acidosis threatens!

Österreich - The use of paracetamol as a popular pain reliever in Austria and Germany increases rapidly. In 2024, sales with pain relievers in Austria were 146.70 million euros, while in Germany hundreds of million euros are implemented in this sector annually. Paracetamol is considered one of the most frequently purchased pain relievers that can be found in almost every household. Despite the widespread distribution and its supposed tolerance, there are now alarming news that affects both patients and pharmacies.

The Federal Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices (BfArM) recently announced a new side effect of paracetamol: metabolic acidosis. This metabolic disorder leads to acidification of the blood that occurs when the body either produces too much acid or does not sufficiently break down. People with chronic kidney disease or kidney failure are particularly at risk. The symptoms are serious and range from nausea and vomiting to faster and deep breathing. If you notice such symptoms after taking paracetamol, you should immediately use medical aid, such as Image reported.

changes in the package insert

Due to these new findings, the package insert of all paracetamol -containing medication, including combination preparations, is adapted to warn the patients of this potential danger. The exact frequency with which the metabolic acidosis occurs as a side effect is not yet known, which makes the situation also worrying. Statistics indicate that about half of the Germans regularly use pain relievers, and many rely on paracetamol as the first choice for pain or fever. The great confidence in this drug could now prove to be risky, as can also be found.