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Why Fizzy Medicines Can Be Bad for Your Blood Pressure

New study suggests use of fast-acting effervescent pain relievers could raise risk of cardiovascular disease

Getty Images If you’re cutting back on salt in your diet, you may want to check your medicine cabinet, too.
A , appearing in the European Heart Journal, is raising alarm bells over popular fizzy, fast-acting medications with high levels of sodium — including acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) — that can be prescribed or purchased over the counter for fever and pain relief. Researchers who reviewed medical records of nearly 300,000 older adults in the United Kingdom found that those who took an effervescent or soluble form of acetaminophen were at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) or dying prematurely within a year than those who took the medication in pill form containing no sodium. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. As with any health-related concern, it is always advisable to consult your primary care physician to determine what medications or supplements are best for you.​

Just how much sodium is in these medications

The effervescent and soluble formulations of acetaminophen taken by study participants contained between 390 and 440 milligrams of sodium bicarbonate per tablet, which provides the fizz. For those taking a full dose of the pain killer, that equates to more than 3,000 mg of additional sodium daily, surpassing the American Heart Association’s (AHA) recommendation than 2,300 mg a day. Ideally, the AHA suggests limiting sodium to 1,500 mg a day, especially for adults with high blood pressure. Sodium is also found in other effervescent medications and supplements: A single 5-gram sachet of effervescent may contain about 850 mg of sodium.​Fizzy vitamins may have about 280 mg of sodium per tablet.​Some urinary alkalinizers contain 644 mg of sodium per dose, according to nutritionist Catherine Saxelby at Foodwatch.com.au. Alka-Seltzer Original, an effervescent over-the-counter medication familiar to Americans that combines an antacid with aspirin to relieve both heartburn and pain, contains 567 mg of sodium per tablet. Someone taking the recommended maximum of eight tablets every 24 hours would ingest more than 4,500 mg of sodium, nearly double the AHA recommendation. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. or are on a sodium-restricted diet. Alka-Seltzer, which contains aspirin rather than acetaminophen for pain relief, was not part of the study.​

Effervescent pain relievers gaining popularity

In , Aletta Schutte, a research professor at the University of New South Wales, and Bruce Neal, executive director of The George Institute for Global Health in Sydney, Australia, note the growing popularity of fizzy medications, pointing to a 2018 study in France that found that 27 percent of those who underwent medical checkups had consumed fizzy tablets in the previous month, almost all without consulting their primary care providers. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > “The direct message from this study is clear — there are likely to be millions of people worldwide taking paracetamol (acetaminophen) on a daily basis in a ‘fast-acting’ effervescent or soluble formulation who are increasing their risks of and premature death,” they wrote. More on health AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS