Borderline Personality Disorder,  Emotions,  Pain

Can Tylenol Really Relieve Hurt Feelings?

Among participants who had high levels of self-reported BPD features, those in the acetaminophen group showed more trust in their partners than those who had taken a placebo.

Can Tylenol Really Relieve ‘Hurt Feelings?’

Researchers say the ingredient acetaminophen can lessen extreme emotional responses, allowing people to get over rejection and other social feelings.

Is it possible that Tylenol can help alleviate not just physical pain, but social pain as well?

A growing body of research suggests that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, may help dampen emotional responses.

In a study published earlier this fall, researchers from The Ohio State University found evidence that acetaminophen may reduce behavioral distrust in people with high levels of borderline personality disorder (BPD) features.

The investigators recruited 284 undergraduate students, each of whom they assessed for BPD features using a self-reported scale.

Following a double-blind procedure, the researchers randomly assigned each participant to receive either 1,000 milligrams of acetaminophen or a placebo.

Afterward, they asked participants to take part in an economic trust game.

Among participants who had high levels of self-reported BPD features, those in the acetaminophen group showed more trust in their partners than those who had taken a placebo.

Among participants with low levels of BPD features, there were no differences in trust observed between those who had taken acetaminophen and those who had taken a placebo.

“In line with past research, we found that people who self-reported higher levels of characteristics associated with BPD entrusted less money to anonymous partners,” Ian Roberts, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto and a lead study author, told Healthline.

“However,” he continued, “our study also found that, for those higher on BPD features, this distrust was reduced when they had been given acetaminophen as compared to a placebo.”

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2 Comments

  • will

    Just an uneducated guess, but I bet it has to do with improved circulation from the anti-inflamatory response on the cardio system as well as clenched muscles in the stomach and things like that. I notice if I so much as catch myself hunching over for too long at my desk, my anxiety starts to increase very quickly and have to remedy it. I’d bet it helps in a similar way taking a walk gets blood flowing to the brain, heart, and lungs and improves moods. Just my observation, could very well be something else.

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