COPD is an acronym for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Research appearing in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (May 2005) examined the relationship between acetaminophen use and respiratory disease, including asthma and COPD.
“Oxidative stress may increase the risk of asthma, contribute to asthma progression, and decrease lung function,” wrote Tricia M. McKeever, MD, of the University of Nottingham, England, and colleagues. “Previous research suggests that use of acetaminophen, which is hypothesized to reduce antioxidant capacity in the lung, is associated with an increased risk of asthma.”
Increased use of acetaminophen (sold under the brand name Tylenol®) was associated with higher rates of both asthma and COPD. The relationship was dose-dependent—the more frequently the drug was used, the higher the incidence of these respiratory conditions. Acetaminophen use was also associated with reduced lung function overall. Daily users of the drug had lower forced expiratory volume (FEV₁), a standard measure of lung function, compared to individuals who did not use the medication.
