A NEW study shows arthritis sufferers may be at risk of taking too much paracetamol.
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The University of Wollongong research shows many Australians with arthritis inadvertently mismanage the amount of paracetamol they consume.
The study surveyed 254 people diagnosed with arthritis. It focused on their health and medication knowledge, medication borrowing and sharing behaviours, and the current medicines they were taking.
Research team leader Judy Mullan said those with lower health literacy were significantly less likely to identify paracetamol as an active ingredient in both combination and paracetamol-only medications.
"They were more likely to guess or did not know how to identify that paracetamol was an active ingredient," Dr Mullan said.
Over-the-counter pain relief medications containing paracetamol are relatively safe if taken appropriately.
However over-consumption can cause health problems including liver disease.
Dr Mullan said the findings highlight the need for greater education on identifying active ingredients, maximum dosage amounts, and potential side effects.
