Introduction
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of your spine. Healthy kidneys filter about a half cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and extra water to make urine.
Top 5 Jobs Kidneys do are
•Remove wastes and extra fluid. Your kidneys act like a filter to remove wastes and extra fluid from your body.
•Control blood pressure. Your kidneys need pressure to work properly.
•Make red blood cells. Your kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin.
•Keep bones healthy.
•Control pH Levels.
Always follow your healthcare provider's instructions and avoid unsupervised medication use. Every drug you put into your body passes through your kidneys.
Herewith we discuss the adverse effects of certain drugs that hurt your kidneys.These are the drugs used to treat conditions other than kidney diseases.
(1) Antibiotics can damage kidneys. Antibiotics are a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), which can range from mild tubular injury to severe kidney function deterioration.
Antibiotics that can damage kidneys Examples:
Aminoglycosides,
Cephalosporins, Amphotericin B, Bacitracin, and Vancomycin
Other factors that can increase the risk of AKI from antibiotics include:
•Pre-existing chronic kidney disease
•Taking other nephrotoxic medications at the same time
People living with chronic kidney failure are at risk of accumulating high concentrations of antibiotics in their bloodstream. To prevent this, doctors will avoid prescribing certain antibiotics. Aminoglycosides are a class of antibiotics that cause kidney injury and can worsen kidney failure.
Macrolide antibiotics are considered to be one of the safest antibiotic treatments available.
To prevent AKI, you can: Follow your healthcare provider's instructions and Avoid taking medications without a prescription.
If you have renal failure, your doctor may adjust your antibiotic dosage by lengthening the interval between doses.
(2) Diuretics, also known as water pills, are drugs that increase the amount of urine produced by the kidneys to help the body get rid of excess fluid and salt. They are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and edema, which is extra fluid in the tissues.
The most common adverse effect for any diuretic is mild hypovolemia, which can lead to transient dehydration and increased thirst.
Hypovolemia is a condition where the body has a low volume of circulating fluid, such as blood, water, or lymphatic fluid.Fluids are essential to keep your organs functioning. Symptoms of hypovolemia include weakness, fatigue and dizziness. Treatment with IV fluids rehydrates and replenishes the fluid your body lost.
If you take too much, diuretics can cause kidney damage, low blood pressure and dehydration.
(3)Pain killers Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications that reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. They work by blocking the production of Cyclooxygenase (COX-2), an enzyme that creates chemicals that cause inflammation, fever, and pain.
NSAIDs can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including:
Headaches, Dental pain, Arthritis, Muscle stiffness, Muscle aches, Tendonitis, Back pain, Bursitis, Toothaches, and Menstrual cramps.
Some examples of NSAIDs include:
Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Celecoxib, Diclofenac, Ketorolac, Naproxen, Mefenamic acid, Etoricoxib, and Indomethacin.
NSAIDs can cause serious side effects, including:
Gastrointestinal side effects
Ulcers and bleeding in the stomach and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
Raises liver enzymes
Diarrhoea:Headache::
Dizziness
Salt and fluid retention
High blood pressure
You should always use NSAIDs cautiously, for the shortest time possible, and at the lowest effective dose.
NSAIDs can induce several different forms of kidney injury including hemodynamically mediated acute kidney injury (AKI); electrolyte and acid-base disorders; acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), which may be accompanied by the nephrotic syndrome; and papillary necrosis . Indomethacin appears to be associated with the highest risk of this complication.
Diclofenac is the probable cause of this hemodynamically mediated acute renal failure. Hemodynamically-medicateacute renal failure due to NSAIDs in volume depleted patients is reversible and is mostly related to the dose and duration of exposure.
In case of NSAID therapy kidney function usually recover when traditional NSAIDs or Coxibs are discontinued.
(4) Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a class of drugs that reduce the amount of stomach acid produced by the glands in the stomach lining. They are used to treat and prevent conditions related to excess stomach acid, such as:
Acid reflux, or
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
Stomach ulcers;
Damage to the lower esophagus caused by acid reflux .
PPIs are available over the counter (OTC) and by prescription, and come in many brands and names. Some examples of PPIs include:
Omeprazole (Prilosec), Esomeprazole (Nexium), Lansoprazole (Prevacid), Rabeprazole (AcipHex), Pantoprazole (Protonix), and Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant).
PPIs are generally considered safe and effective, but they can cause side effects, including:
Headache
Fever
Gastrointestinal effects, such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, or vomiting;Light-headedness
Magnesium or vitamin B12 deficiency; Rash;Tongue discoloration or taste disturbances .
It has not been proven that PPI use causes chronic kidney disease, but some studies suggest there is an increased risk of chronic kidney disease in individuals who have normal kidney function before using a PPI.
H2 blockers used as antacid causes less damage to kidneys.(4) Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a class of drugs that reduce the amount of stomach acid produced by the glands in the stomach lining. They are used to treat and prevent conditions related to excess stomach acid, such as:
Acid reflux, or g
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Stomach ulcers
Damage to the lower esophagus caused by acid reflux
PPIs are available over the counter and by prescription, and come in many brands and names. Some examples of PPIs include:
Omeprazole (Prilosec), Esomeprazole (Nexium), Lansoprazole (Prevacid), Rabeprazole (AcipHex), Pantoprazole (Protonix), and Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant).
PPIs are generally considered safe and effective, but they can cause side effects, including:
Headache
Fever
Gastrointestinal effects, such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, or vomiting
Light-headedness
Magnesium or vitamin B12 deficiency
Rash
Tongue discoloration or taste disturbances
It has not been proven that PPI use causes chronic kidney disease, but some studies suggest there is an increased risk of chronic kidney disease in individuals who have normal kidney function before using a PPI.
H2 blockers used as antacid causes less damage to kidneys.
(5) Laxatives can cause ischemic kidney injury due to diarrhea and resultant dehydration, potentially contributing to progressive loss of kidney function, particularly in patients with advanced CKD who are vulnerable to fluid .
Long-term and excessive use of DULCOLAX may cause an imbalance of salts in the body (including low potassium), muscle weakness and kidney problems. Loss of fluids from the body can cause dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration include thirst and passing less urine than normal.Over-the-counter or prescription versions can leave crystals in your kidneys that may damage them or cause failure. This is especially true for ones that contain oral sodium phosphate, or OSP.
(6) Medicine for diabetes:
Some drugs that can help with diabetes and kidney damage include:
SGLT2 inhibitors
Also known as gliflozins, these drugs can help lower blood sugar and prevent kidney disease from getting worse. Some examples include canagliflozin (Invokana), dapagliflozin (Farxiga), empagliflozin (Jardiance), and ertugliflozin (Steglatro).
(7)Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a type of kidney injury that occurs after exposure to contrast in imaging during CT scan or MRI.
Furthermore ayurvedic supplements contains heavy meals affects kidneys.Cholesterol reducing drugs such as statins affect kidneys.Antifungal and antiviral drugs affect kidneys.
(8)What to know about statins for kidney failure. Doctors may prescribe statins to manage cholesterol levels for some people with kidney failure. However, the risks of this medication include further kidney damage, rhabdomyolysis, and liver inflammation.
Statin use increases the risk of damage to the kidneys, which could worsen the health of someone with kidney failure. This medication can also increase the risk of conditions such as rhabdomyolysis, which can cause kidney damage, disability, and death.
Use of rosuvastatin was associated with an 8% greater risk of hematuria, a 17% greater risk of proteinuria, and a 15% higher risk of developing kidney failure.
The scientific results suggest that a moderate-intensity dose of atorvastatin has fewer detrimental effects on renal function than that of rosuvastatin
(9)Arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, chromium, and nickel may be found in Ayurvedic products as well . It is estimated that over 20% of the Ayurvedic medications manufactured and distributed by U.S. and Indian companies contain toxic metals such as lead, mercury, and/or arsenic
In Ayurveda, they are called Sapta Dhatus - Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja and Sukhra respectively
Certain dietary supplements or traditional health remedies may be harmful because they contain dangerous chemicals or high levels of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury or arsenic..
Prolonged use of drugs in higher doses must be avoided.
Information compiled by: Dr. Bhairavsinh Raol
