World's most common painkiller 'could cause risky behaviour'

As one of the most widely used medications in the world, scientists are now examining the additional ways this painkiller could be impacting our bodies.

The analgesic Acetaminophen, better known as paracetamol, is available worldwide in numerous forms under brand names such as Tylenol and Panadol.

It functions by blocking chemical signals in the brain that alert you to bodily pain, but whilst doing this, it may be working excessively to accomplish much more.

A 2020 study examining behavioural changes following consumption of the drug uncovered its side effects on the brain.

A significant finding was the medication's capacity to heighten the brain's likelihood of risk-taking behaviour, reports the Mirror US.

Neuroscientist Baldwin Way from The Ohio State University stated: "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."

These discoveries, combined with existing studies on acetaminophen's pain-relieving properties and its connection to various psychological processes, might sound warning bells.

Previous research has demonstrated it diminishes people's sensitivity to causing emotional harm to others, indicating reduced empathy, and influences the dulling of other mental functions. Baldwin Way spearheaded a fascinating study involving over 500 university students to explore the effects of acetaminophen on risk-taking behaviour.

The research team administered a single adult recommended dose of the drug to some participants, while others received a placebo, to observe any differences in their actions.

The experiment was centred around a balloon-pumping exercise on a computer screen, where each pump equated to earning imaginary money, with the goal to amass as much as possible without popping the balloon.

The findings were striking - those who took acetaminophen displayed significantly more risk-taking tendencies than their counterparts who had the placebo.

The placebo group tended to be more cautious, resulting in fewer burst balloons compared to the first group that took the actual medication.

Way said: "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.

"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."

However, it's important to note that the researchers also contemplated the drug's apparent influence on risk-taking behaviour could be interpreted differently. In other words, the psychological process might help alleviate anxiety, thereby boosting confidence in decision-making.