I am a practicing doctor and I don't know where this is coming from.
Paracetamol and Ibuprofen while they have potentially lethal side effects are incredibly safe and effective in daily practice and consequently are very widely used. Every known drug has side effects and if you ever read a drug insert you would never pop a pill again. In the case of ibuprofen/paracetamol we are careful to avoid use in patients with ulcers, elevated blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, alcoholics or allergy to either drug.
Unlike opioids they don't cause dependence and their anti-inflammatory effect is very useful post trauma. Most patients self regulate their dosage and usually taper down within a few days. Used in combination a more nuanced effect can be achieved with lower doses.
Paracetamol toxicity in particular frequently occurs in the context of attempted suicide, alcohol abuse or mental impairment and requires a huge pill burden 20 - 24 pills ingested at once or about a 6 - 12 pills in repeated doses over multiple days. This is not as common as you would assume.
Surgery without anaesthesia is cruel and abusive. NSAIDS are not always the right call,but given a choice they are a good alternative.
Tldr: they are dangerous in theory but safe in practice.
would you recommend a patient take any drugs regularly without regular follow ups?
that's the danger of 1000ct over-the-counter. taking a couple of ibuprofens when you have a headache is one thing. taking enough to need 100s of them, without a professional recommendation is another.
I'm fortunate enough to never had need to take either, except after having my wisdom teeth out I took a few paracetamol with hydrocodone tablets.
I'm not suggesting that taking a few doses here and there is anything to be concerned about.
What worries me is that some people are consuming probably too much over probably too long and having subclinical negative health outcomes as a result.
Paracetamol and Ibuprofen while they have potentially lethal side effects are incredibly safe and effective in daily practice and consequently are very widely used. Every known drug has side effects and if you ever read a drug insert you would never pop a pill again. In the case of ibuprofen/paracetamol we are careful to avoid use in patients with ulcers, elevated blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, alcoholics or allergy to either drug.
Unlike opioids they don't cause dependence and their anti-inflammatory effect is very useful post trauma. Most patients self regulate their dosage and usually taper down within a few days. Used in combination a more nuanced effect can be achieved with lower doses.
Paracetamol toxicity in particular frequently occurs in the context of attempted suicide, alcohol abuse or mental impairment and requires a huge pill burden 20 - 24 pills ingested at once or about a 6 - 12 pills in repeated doses over multiple days. This is not as common as you would assume.
Surgery without anaesthesia is cruel and abusive. NSAIDS are not always the right call,but given a choice they are a good alternative.
Tldr: they are dangerous in theory but safe in practice.