GP warns common painkillers can cause ulcers, liver and kidney damage if overused

A British GP has warned that two of the most widely used over-the-counter painkillers — paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) and ibuprofen — can cause serious harm, including stomach ulcers, liver failure and kidney damage, if taken more than occasionally or in doses that exceed guidance over time.

Dr. Dean Eggitt, a general practitioner and chief executive of Doncaster Local Medical Committee, said the medicines are safe when taken correctly but that patients often underestimate the risks. "All these simple over the counter medications can actually prove fatal in the wrong doses—and some, like paracetamol, within a week," he said, adding: "It's a huge problem and people just don't recognise the risk."

Eggitt warned that even slightly exceeding the recommended dose over the course of a week, rather than a single day, can lead to permanent liver and kidney damage. He described paracetamol, widely used for headaches and fevers, as particularly hazardous when taken above recommended amounts. Ibuprofen, he noted, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that can irritate the stomach lining and raise the risk of stomach ulcers.

Medical guidance generally emphasises that paracetamol and ibuprofen are effective and safe when used according to product labels or a clinician's instructions. Eggitt's comments follow concerns that routine or prolonged self-medication, accidental double-dosing and concurrent use of multiple products containing the same active ingredient can result in unintended overdose.

Healthcare professionals routinely advise patients to read dosing instructions, to avoid exceeding the recommended dose or duration, and to consult a pharmacist or doctor if they are taking other medications, have pre-existing liver or kidney conditions, or consume large amounts of alcohol. People who experience persistent pain, unexplained abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), black stools, or a marked reduction in urine output after taking these medicines are advised to seek medical attention promptly.

Eggitt's warning underscores broader public-health challenges around self-care with over-the-counter medicines. Millions of people use paracetamol and ibuprofen daily to treat common ailments, and while those medicines remain important tools in managing pain and fever, clinicians say greater public awareness of dosing limits and potential harms is needed to prevent avoidable serious outcomes.