From Dr G. Brandon
SIR,-The media gave wide coverage to the recent paper in Thorax (2000;55:266) appearing to associate asthma with frequent use of paracetamol (see PJ, March 25, p459). Very few of them covered the statement issued the same day by the Medicines Control Agency, stating that the Committee on Safety of Medicines had reviewed the study and concluded that "there is no reason for advising any change in the use of paracetamol. Paracetamol is a safe and effective pain killer for many patients including asthmatics."
Was this a case of "Why spoil a good story with the facts"?
Furthermore, few media mentioned that the authors clearly stated they had no evidence for a causal effect, or the opinion of at least one asthma specialist who commented that the impaired sleep suffered by severe asthmatics gives rise to frequent headaches - the main reason for taking paracetamol expressed by participants in the study - so that the asthma may increase the use of paracetamol rather than the other way round.
Geoffrey Brandon
Paracetamol Information Centre, London SE19