Why is motrin bad for kidneys

However, it is important to realize that no medicine is completely without risk. They should be used carefully. When used improperly, pain medicines can cause problems in the body, including the kidneys.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, as many as 3 percent to 5 percent of new cases of chronic kidney failure each year may be caused by the overuse of these painkillers. Once kidney disease occurs, continued use of the problem drug makes it worse. Also, even if your kidney function is good, long—term use with high doses of these pain drugs may harm the kidneys. Kidney damage happens because high doses of the drugs have a harmful effect on kidney tissue and structures.

These drugs can also reduce the blood flow to the kidney. If you are older, your kidneys may have a stronger reaction to these medicines and you may need a smaller dose. Kidney disease from pain medicines is often preventable. You can change your risk by how you take medicines. To avoid kidney problems, it is important to follow the instructions on the label. You should tell your health care team how often you use these drugs and how many of pills you take.

You should drink plenty of fluids and avoid becoming dehydrated when you use these medicines. If you have special risks, your doctor may be able to recommend a safer alternative and can order regular tests to monitor kidney function.

Analgesics are medicines that help to control pain and reduce fever, and some types also decrease inflammation. These are commonly used analgesics:. Although aspirin was most common analgesic for decades, today, the most commonly used over—the—counter pain medicine is acetaminophen.

It is often effective for mild to moderate pain. Its safety depends on how it is used. People who take too much or take it too often risk side effects or worse. Acetaminophen is also found in combination with other ingredients in many cold, sinus, and cough medications. If you take these drugs together, the dose can add up.

This includes different brands of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and ketoprofen. Acetaminophen is the drug often recommended for occasional use in patients with kidney disease. But everyone with kidney disease should rely on their doctor or other health care professional for a personal recommendation. It is important to know that any drug can be harmful if used at high doses or very frequently.

And if you have high blood pressure, they can make it worse. This increases your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke. This can make the symptoms of heart failure, such as shortness of breath, swollen ankles, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat, worse.

NSAIDs can also keep the kidneys from working well. There is no simple answer. The best painkiller to use depends on your health problems. For the study, Dr Wan and colleagues used the clinical database maintained by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, which manages the public health care sector in Hong Kong. The investigators limited their analysis to , individuals who used NSAIDs and 1,, who did not. During a median follow-up duration of 6. The other NSAIDs included in the study were celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, mefenamic acid, naproxen, piroxicam, and sulindac.

With regard to study limitations, the investigators explained that the database they used for the study did not cover all NSAIDs available in Hong Kong because of formulary restrictions. Comparative risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on CKD.