Effects of Acetaminophen on Risk Taking

Effects of Acetaminophen on Risk Taking

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
September 24, 2020; Vol. 15; No. 7; pp. 725–732

Alexis Keaveney, Ellen Peters, Baldwin Way: from the Department of Psychology, Ohio State University and the University of Oregon. This study cites 39 references

The most noted brand name for acetaminophen is Tylenol®.

The Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) predicts drug and alcohol use, delinquent behavior, and risky sexual behavior. It is a computerized task in which participants inflate balloons to earn money, but each pump risks them losing all of their prior earnings. To measure risk taking, the BART was used.

The authors tested the hypothesis that 1000 mg of acute acetaminophen consumption could influence important judgments and decisions, versus consumption of a placebo.

The authors assessed 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies using 545 healthy young adults (average age of about 20 years) and measured their risk taking with the Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART).

To facilitate drug absorption, participants refrained from consuming food for three hours before the experiment.

To allow for sufficient drug uptake into the brain, participants waited 45 min to begin the main tasks of the study.

KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1) “Acetaminophen, an analgesic and antipyretic available over-the-counter and used in over 600 medicines, is one of the most consumed drugs in the USA.”

• It is taken by about 23% of the US adult population each week.
• “Research has suggested that acetaminophen’s effects extend to the blunting of negative as well as positive affect.”

2) “Research has demonstrated that acetaminophen’s effects on pain and fever reduction extend to psychological processes.”

• Acetaminophen reduces hurt feelings.
• Acetaminophen blunts affective reactivity to images.
• Acetaminophen affects decision-making.

3) Findings

• Acetaminophen increased BART risk taking.
• “Across all studies [545 young subjects], acetaminophen increased risk-taking behavior.” [Key Point]
• “Those on acetaminophen engaged in significantly more risk taking than those on placebo.”
• A combined analysis of studies showed “a significant main effect of acetaminophen on BART risk taking with a greater average number of pumps on non-bursting balloons in the acetaminophen condition than the placebo condition.”
  • “There was a greater number of balloon bursts in the acetaminophen condition than the placebo condition.”
  • This is “consistent with the acetaminophen group engaging in greater risk taking.”
• “This analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of acetaminophen on risk taking through risk perception.”

4) Conclusions:

• “[There is] strong evidence that acetaminophen increases risk-taking.”
• “Acetaminophen significantly reduced perceived risk.”
• “These results indicate that acetaminophen can increase risk taking, which may be due to reductions in risk perceptions.”
• “Across three separate studies, acetaminophen increased risk taking on the BART.”
• “Acetaminophen may reduce negative affect and risk perception in turn and, thereby, increase risk taking.” [Important]
• “These findings provide initial evidence that acetaminophen can influence risk judgments.”
• “When treated in aggregate, a significant relation emerged between taking acetaminophen and choosing more risk.”

5) Mechanisms:

• “Acetaminophen inhibits the production of prostaglandins in the brain.”
  • “The administration of such drugs might provide insight into whether the prostaglandins are involved in risk judgments as well as which enzymes producing prostaglandins (cyclooxygenase 1 and cyclooxygenase 2) are greater contributors to the effect.”

6) Potential Implications from Authors:

• “With nearly 25% of the population consuming acetaminophen each week, reduced risk perceptions and increased risk taking could have important societal effects.”
• “Many patients in the hospital have acetaminophen in their systems when presented with risk information and asked to make potentially life-changing risk assessments such as whether or not to do an invasive surgery.”
• “When driving, one is regularly presented with decisions that involve risk perception and assessment.”
• This over-the-counter drug may influence “choices made and risks taken,” “unbeknownst to the millions taking the drug.” [Key Point]

We have reviewed these studies pertaining to Tylenol:

Article Review 38-13:
Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure

Article Review 16-14:
Can Autism be Triggered by Acetaminophen Activation of the Endocannabinoid System?

Article Review 21-14:
Evidence that Increased Acetaminophen use in Genetically Vulnerable Children Appears to be a Major Cause of the Epidemics of Autism, Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity, and Asthma

Article Review 22-14:
Prenatal and Perinatal Analgesic Exposure and Autism

Article Review 33-14:
Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy, Behavioral Problems, and Hyperkinetic Disorders

Article Review 47-14:
Did Acetaminophen Provoke the Autism Epidemic?

Article Review 50-14:
Efficacy of Paracetamol [Tylenol] for Acute Low-back Pain

Article Review 41-15:
Efficacy and Safety of Paracetamol for Spinal Pain and Osteoarthritis

Article Review 28-16:
Association of Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy with Behavioral Problems in Childhood

Article Review 12-17:
The Role of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Acetaminophen Exposure from Birth to Early Childhood in the Induction of Autism

Article Review 13-18:
Acetaminophen Use Modifies the Sulfation of Sex Hormones

Article Review 37-21:
Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to Acetaminophen in Relation to Autism Spectrum and Attention-deficit and Hyperactivity Symptoms in Childhood

Article Review 2-2022:
[Acetaminophen] Use During Pregnancy: A Call for Precautionary Action

Article Review 52-23:
Acetaminophen Causes Neurodevelopmental Injury in Susceptible Babies and Children: No Valid Rationale for Controversy

Article Review 13-24:
A Systematic Review of the Link Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Acetaminophen

Article Review 42-25:
Evaluation of the Evidence on Acetaminophen Use and Neurodevelopmental Disorders