Health
Common Painkillers Linked to Antibiotic Resistance
Health Points
- Recent findings reveal that two widely used over-the-counter pain medications may increase antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
- Research suggests that combining these painkillers with antibiotics leads to more genetic changes in bacteria, enhancing resistance.
- Experts advise awareness of medication use, especially when paired with antibiotics, to help reduce this risk.
Emerging evidence shows that pain relief medications found in most medicine cabinets could play a role in the rise of antibiotic resistance. Scientists studied nine everyday non-antibiotic drugs and discovered that ibuprofen and acetaminophen, better known as Advil and Tylenol, can both encourage bacteria to become harder to treat.
Antibiotic resistance means that bacteria adapt and survive even in the presence of medicines designed to kill them, making infections more difficult to treat. The World Health Organization notes that antimicrobial resistance is a serious global health threat, contributing to millions of deaths each year.
“When bacteria were exposed to ciprofloxacin alongside ibuprofen and paracetamol, they developed more genetic mutations than with the antibiotic alone, helping them grow faster and become highly resistant,” shared Rietie Venter, lead researcher at the University of South Australia.
She noted, “Worryingly, the bacteria were not only resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, but increased resistance was also observed to multiple other antibiotics from different classes.”
The researchers emphasize that consumers shouldn’t avoid these painkillers entirely, but encourage thoughtful use, especially if antibiotics are involved. Further research is underway to understand how these popular medicines interact and affect our health.
Stay up to date with the latest health research and always speak with your healthcare provider before making changes to your medication routine.