Could the world's most popular painkiller be making people more reckless?

thuốc giảm đau - Ảnh 1. — Any medication is safe when used at the correct dosage for the correct ailment - Photo: AI

The research was conducted by a team led by Dr. Baldwin Way, a psychologist at Ohio State University (USA). The results were published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience in 2020 .

In recent years, the research team has conducted a series of behavioral experiments and brain scans to understand how acetaminophen (the main ingredient in many common painkillers) affects human perception of risk and empathy.

Pain relievers and fever reducers are widely used globally. But beyond their familiar pain-relieving effects, scientists have found that acetaminophen also reduces negative emotions when faced with risk, leading users to perceive danger as lower and be more willing to take risks.

"This drug appears to reduce people's fear when thinking about risky activities," said neuroscientist Baldwin Way, the lead researcher. "Given its widespread use, this effect could influence social behavior in general."

To verify this, the research team conducted an experiment with over 500 university students. Half were given 1,000 mg of paracetamol, the maximum recommended dose for adults; the other half received a placebo.

Participants are asked to inflate virtual balloons on a computer screen: each inflation earns them "virtual money," but if the balloon bursts, they lose all their money.

The results were surprising: the group using paracetamol inflated more balloons and burst more balloons, indicating they accepted a higher risk. "It seems that as the balloons got bigger, they didn't feel as anxious or afraid of bursting as usual," Way explained.

In addition to virtual games, volunteers were also asked about the level of risk in various real-life situations: betting a day's salary on a sporting event, bungee jumping from a high bridge, or driving without a seatbelt.

The results showed that those who took paracetamol rated the level of danger lower than the control group, although in some studies, this effect was not as pronounced.

Scientists suggest this effect may be related to paracetamol's ability to reduce anxiety. "When anxiety about risk increases, a normal person would stop. But for someone who has taken paracetamol, that fear is reduced, making them more likely to take risks," the research team noted.

This study also adds to a body of previous evidence suggesting that paracetamol can affect cognition and emotions, such as reducing empathy, decreasing sensitivity to hurt feelings, or slowing down information processing.

Despite these noteworthy findings, scientists emphasize that paracetamol remains an essential and safe medicine when used at the correct dosage, and is classified as a basic medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, the research opens up a new perspective: a pill that seems to only relieve headaches or reduce fever can subtly influence how we assess risk and make decisions.

"We need more research to better understand the psychological and neurological effects of these common painkillers," said neurologist Baldwin Way. "Because it's possible they not only alleviate pain, but also make us less… fearful."

MINH HAI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thuoc-giam-dau-pho-bien-nhat-the-gioi-co-the-khien-con-nguoi-lieu-linh-hon-20251027110531773.htm