One of the most widely used medications in the US and the world may be able to accomplish much more than just relieve your headache pain.
Acetaminophen, commonly referred to as paracetamol and marketed under the Tylenol and Panadol brands, has been linked to an increase in risk-taking, per a 2020 study that examined behavioral changes in subjects taking the popular over-the-counter drug.
When the results were released, neurologist Baldwin Way of The Ohio State University said, “Acetaminophen seems to make people feel less negative emotion when they consider risky activities – they just don’t feel as scared.”
“With nearly 25 percent of the population in the US taking acetaminophen each week, reduced risk perceptions and increased risk-taking could have important effects on society.”
The results add to a growing body of evidence that suggests the psychological processes that acetaminophen reduces pain by reducing susceptibility to wounded sensations, reducing empathy, and even blunting cognitive skills are all affected by the drug’s pain-reduction effects.
Similarly, the research indicates that acetaminophen use may potentially change or decrease people’s affective capacity to notice and evaluate dangers.
Given that acetaminophen is the most widely used drug ingredient in America, appearing in over 600 distinct types of prescription and over-the-counter medications, even though the impacts may be minimal and now only regarded hypothetical, they are nevertheless noteworthy.
Way and his team measured the effects of a single 1,000 mg dose of acetaminophen (the recommended maximum adult single dosage) on participants’ risk-taking behavior in a series of experiments involving over 500 university students. The participants’ behavior was compared to a control group that received placebos randomly assigned to them.
Participants in all the tests were required to pump up an uninflated balloon on a computer screen in order to receive virtual currency for each pump.
They were told to pump the balloon as much as they could in order to earn as much imaginary money as they could, but they had to be careful not to pop it since then they would lose the money.
As compared to the more circumspect and cautious placebo group, the students who took acetaminophen throughout the exercise demonstrated considerably higher levels of risk-taking. Acetaminophen users generally pumped (and burst) their balloons more than the control group.
“If you’re risk-averse, you may pump a few times and then decide to cash out because you don’t want the balloon to burst and lose your money,” Way stated.
“But for those who are on acetaminophen, as the balloon gets bigger, we believe they have less anxiety and less negative emotion about how big the balloon is getting and the possibility of it bursting.”
During two of the experiments, in addition to the balloon simulation, participants completed surveys in which they rated the degree of risk they associated with a variety of hypothetical scenarios, such as wagering a day’s wages on a sporting event, bungee jumping off a tall bridge, or operating a vehicle without using a seatbelt.
When compared to the control group, taking acetaminophen did seem to lower perceived risk in one of the surveys; however, this impact was not shown in another survey that was identical.
The team came to the conclusion that there is a significant relationship between taking acetaminophen and choosing more risk, even though the observed effect appears slight. This is based on an average of results across the various tests, which may not accurately reflect how acetaminophen might affect people in real-life scenarios.
However, they noted that other psychological processes, such as decreased anxiety, might potentially account for the drug’s apparent impact on risk-taking behavior.
“It may be that as the balloon increases in size, those on placebo feel increasing amounts of anxiety about a potential burst,” the investigators stated.
“They terminate the trial when the anxiety is too great. Acetaminophen may lessen anxiety, which encourages taking more risks.”
Future research, according to the team, should focus on examining psychological explanations for this phenomenon in addition to examining the biological mechanisms underlying acetaminophen’s impact on people’s decisions in similar circumstances.
The World Health Organization considers acetaminophen to be an essential treatment, despite the drug’s possible effects on people’s sense of risk. Despite this, acetaminophen is still one of the most widely used and significant drugs worldwide.
“We really need more research on the effects of acetaminophen and other over-the-counter drugs on the choices and risks we take,” Way stated.
The results were published in the journal Affective and Social Cognitive Neuroscience.
This article was first published in September 2020 in a different version.
A follow-up commentary that was released in 2021 drew attention to the limitations of the experimental simulation, emphasized some criticisms of the initial study and its interpretation in the media, and said that more research would be required to determine whether using acetaminophen was an “acute danger to tasks of daily living”.
Key Points about Pain Relief Drugs:
- Widely Used Medication: Acetaminophen, known as paracetamol and marketed as Tylenol and Panadol, is among the most consumed painkillers worldwide.
- Risk-Taking Link: A 2020 study suggests acetaminophen may increase risk-taking behavior.
- Emotional Impact: The drug appears to reduce negative emotions when considering risky activities, making users feel less scared.
- Societal Implications: With about 25% of the US population taking acetaminophen weekly, reduced risk perception could have significant societal effects.
- Psychological Effects: Acetaminophen’s pain-relief effects may also lower empathy, blunt cognitive functions, and reduce sensitivity to hurt feelings.
- Study Method: Over 500 university students participated in experiments measuring risk-taking after a 1,000 mg dose of acetaminophen compared to a placebo group.
- Balloon Experiment: Participants who took acetaminophen pumped and burst balloons more often than those who took placebos, indicating higher risk-taking.
- Survey Results: Acetaminophen users perceived lower risk in hypothetical scenarios like betting, bungee jumping, and driving without a seatbelt.
- Psychological Mechanisms: Reduced anxiety from acetaminophen might explain increased risk-taking behavior.
- Need for Further Research: The study calls for more research on acetaminophen’s psychological and biological effects on decision-making.
- Essential Medicine: Despite potential risks, acetaminophen is considered an essential medication by the World Health Organization.
- Published Findings: The study results were published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
- Criticism and Follow-Up: A 2021 commentary highlighted the limitations of the study, noting that more research is needed to determine acetaminophen’s real-world impact on risk-taking.
