The common adverse effects of traditional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on renal function include reductions in renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, and sodium and potassium excretion, mainly via inhibition of renal cyclooxygenase.
Paracetamol is a widely used over-the-counter analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). It is commonly used for the relief of headaches, other minor aches and pains, and is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu remedies. In combination with opioid analgesics, paracetamol can also be used in the management of more severe pain such as post surgical pain and providing palliative care in advanced cancer patients.[4] The onset of analgesia is approximately 11 minutes after oral administration of paracetamol,[5] and its half-life is 1–4 hours.
With prolonged usage or if more of the medication is taken than recommended on the packaging, unpleasant side effects may develop. Some of the more common side effects of paracetamol include gastrointestinal disturbances, reduced tolerance for pain, and kidney or liver damage.
Serious liver and kidney damage may occur with long-term use of this type of drug. These side effects of paracetamol may not always be reversible. If these conditions are diagnosed early and before significant organ damage has occurred, discontinuing the medication may prevent additional damage from developing. Unfortunately, the damage which has already occurred is unlikely to be able to be repaired.
