Back pain study did not show paracetamol effective

Back pain: paracetamol not effective
Is paracetamol the right choice for back pain? This question was answered by scientists from Australia and came to the conclusion: The effect is almost zero.

The research team from Sydney evaluated 13 studies. Primary outcomes included pain, limitations of mobility and quality of life. In ten studies, the efficacy of acetaminophen in hip and knee osteoarthritis was examined, in three studies in back pain. From the results, the researchers conclude that acetaminophen does not relieve back pain. Compared to placebo, the difference in pain intensity over a period of up to three months was only -0.5 points.

The difference in mobility parameter was 0.4 points. The quality of life was no better in the verum groups than in the comparison groups. The results were slightly different in the evaluation of the osteoarthritis studies. According to this, paracetamol relieves pain more than placebo within three months (-3.7 points) and improves mobility (-2.9 points). But this effect is not clinically relevant.

However, it has also been shown that the risk of abnormal liver function during paracetamol therapy is significantly increased. (Pm)