That paracetamol along with the morning coffee after a big night may not be such a good idea after all.
Researchers in the U.S. say caffeine and acetaminophen (paracetamol) are a bad combination; they suggest people should limit their caffeine intake while taking paracetamol.
The Chemical Research in Toxicology study by researchers at the University of Washington says the combination of large quantities of both drugs appeared to increase the risk of liver damage; the scientists say that caffeine tripled the amount of a toxic by-product created when paracetamol was broken down.
Dr. Sid Nelson says even relatively small overdoses of paracetamol can cause permanent damage to the liver, which has prompted the government to restrict the number of tablets that can be bought over the counter.
Although scientists already knew that heavy alcohol consumption can increase the toxicity of the drug this is the first time it has been suggested that combining paracetamol and caffeine could produce a similar effect.
It is also known that caffeine is added to many commercially available paracetamol tablets as it is believed that this increases their painkilling properties.
The University of Washington researchers now believe that people should limit their caffeine intake while taking paracetamol.
Dr. Sid Nelson says a person does not have stop taking paracetamol or stop using caffeine products but they do need to monitor their intake carefully when combining the two, especially if they drink alcohol.
For the study E. coli bacteria were used which had been genetically modified to produce a key liver chemical which, in humans, helps the body break down paracetamol.
When the bacteria were exposed to very large doses of paracetamol and caffeine together, the amount of the toxic byproduct produced was trebled.
The toxin is the one which causes liver damage following a paracetamol overdose.