People who regularly take the "world's most used drug" could face an increased risk of certain fatal conditions, a medical study has warned.

Until recently, paracetamol was considered entirely safe for those with high blood pressure. However, research from 2022 revealed its impact on blood pressure mirrors that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. NSAIDs are commonly prescribed for chronic pain management, but are also recognised for raising blood pressure and the likelihood of heart disease, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Medical professionals have indicated the rise in blood pressure could potentially increase the risk of heart disease or stroke by around 20%. Scientists are now urging that patients with long-term prescriptions for the painkiller, typically given for chronic pain relief, should receive the lowest effective dose for the shortest time possible.

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Professor James Dear, personal chair of clinical pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, said: "This study clearly shows that paracetamol, the world's most used drug, increases blood pressure, one of the most important risk factors for heart attacks and strokes."

Prof Dear emphasised that doctors and patients should "together consider the risks versus the benefits" particularly where individuals face cardiovascular disease risks. He added: "In summary, we've shown that two weeks of treatment with paracetamol increases blood pressure in patients who have hypertension (high blood pressure)."

Lead investigator Dr Iain MacIntyre, consultant in clinical pharmacology and nephrology at NHS Lothian, said people who use paracetamol every once in a while shouldn't worry. Dr MacIntyre said: "This is not about short-term use of paracetamol for headaches or fever, which is, of course, fine - but it does indicate a newly discovered risk for people who take it regularly over the longer term, usually for chronic pain."

The research discovered that once participants stopped taking paracetamol, their blood pressure reverted to baseline levels, indicating the drug had elevated it. Researchers acknowledged they lacked precise figures for UK residents on long-term paracetamol who also have high blood pressure.

However, estimates suggest one in three British adults with high blood pressure take paracetamol on a regular basis. The experts noted the study was designed to detect even minimal blood pressure changes, making the substantially larger impact they observed all the more striking.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, said the findings "emphasise why doctors and patients should regularly review whether there is an ongoing need to take any medication" and "always weigh up the benefits and risks".

Blood Pressure UK reports roughly one in three adults across the UK has high blood pressure. In England, this affects 31% of men and 26% of women.