Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) Induces Hypothermia During Acute Cold Stress
Open accessAbstract
Background Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter drug used to treat pain and fever, but it has also been shown to reduce core temperature (T c) in the absence of fever. However, this side effect is not well examined in humans, and it is unknown if the hypothermic response to acetaminophen is exacerbated with cold exposure.Objective To address this question, we mapped the thermoregulatory responses to acetaminophen and placebo administration during exposure to acute cold (10 °C) and thermal neutrality (25 °C).Methods Nine healthy Caucasian males (aged 20-24 years) participated in the experiment. In a double-blind, randomised, repeated measures design, participants were passively exposed to a thermo-neutral or cold environment for 120 min, with administration of 20 mg/kg lean body mass acetaminophen or a placebo 5 min prior to exposure. T c, skin temperature (T sk), heart rate, and thermal sensation were measured every 10 min, and mean arterial pressure was recorded every 30 min. Data were analysed using linear mixed effects models. Differences in thermal sensation were analysed using a cumulative link mixed model.Results Acetaminophen had no effect on T c in a thermo-neutral environment, but significantly reduced T c during cold exposure, compared with a placebo. T c was lower in the acetaminophen compared with the placebo condition at each 10-min interval from 80 to 120 min into the trial (all p < 0.05). On average, T c decreased by 0.42 ± 0.13 °C from baseline after 120 min of cold exposure (range 0.16-0.57 °C), whereas there was no change in the placebo group (0.01 ± 0.1 °C). T sk, heart rate, thermal sensation, and mean arterial pressure were not different between conditions (p > 0.05).Conclusion This preliminary trial suggests that acetaminophen-induced hypothermia is exacerbated during cold stress. Larger scale trials seem warranted to determine if acetaminophen administration is associated with an increased risk of accidental hypothermia, particularly in vulnerable populations such as frail elderly individuals.
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- Authors
- Foster, J., Mauger, A. R., Govus, A., Hewson, D., & Taylor, L.
- Affiliations
- Loughborough University (GB)
- University of Kent (GB)
- Mid Sweden University (SE)
- University of Bedfordshire (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Foster, Josh
- Venue
- Clinical Drug Investigation
- Published
- 2017-08-01
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1055-1065
- ISSN
- 0114-2402 (ISSN-L)
- 1173-2563
- 1179-1918
- OpenAlex
- W2739481111
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 0.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Clinical Drug Investigation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (acceptedVersion)
- Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Loughborough University Research Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- University of Bedfordshire Repository (University of Bedfordshire) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Thermal Regulation in Medicine
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Keywords
- paracetamol, hypothermia, cold stress, thermoregulation, core body temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, thermal sensation, mean arterial pressure, accidental hypothermia, adverse drug reactions, frail elderly
- MeSH terms
- Acetaminophen, Cold Temperature, Double-Blind Method, Heart Rate, Humans, Hypothermia, Male, Young Adult
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