Side effects and health problems are caused by drugs we use every day. They can cause damage to several organs in our bodies, including the kidneys and the liver. Discover through this article the list of medications that cause kidney damage.
About 25% of the blood that circulates in our body passes through the kidneys. The most important role of the kidneys is to filter the waste in the blood. The glomeruli, which are found in the outer part of the kidney, are the cells responsible for the filtration of the blood and the extraction of waste. These small units are most exposed to high concentrations of drugs. Thus, a large number of drugs can cause serious damage to the kidneys.
Drugs and kidneys, stay cautious!
Several drugs and medicinal plants have the potential to harm the kidneys. This toxicity may lead to a change in the functioning of both kidneys.
Here is a list of medications that cause severe kidney problems:
Analgesics: These drugs are used in the treatment of pain. They can be taken orally, intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly and transdermally. This class is very extensive and contains several drugs and molecules, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen, ibuprofen. Temporary intake of these medicines may cause a slight decrease in kidney function, which disappears as soon as treatment is discontinued. But for patients who are on prolonged treatment, they are at risk of severe degradation of renal function. According to Dr. Brigitte Lantz, General Secretary of the Kidney Foundation, analgesics prohibit the synthesis of prostaglandins causing vasoconstriction of the renal vessels and a decrease in kidney perfusion that can lead to functional renal insufficiency.
Antibiotics: They are used to fight bacterial infections by preventing their multiplication and eliminating them. Several families and types of antibiotics can harm the kidneys, such as vancomycin, meticillin, ciprofloxacin, sulfonamides (sulfamides). It is possible that in people with kidney failure antibiotic intake can cause serious damage by decreasing renal blood flow and by interacting directly with the cell membrane or through the production of intracellular toxins.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): This group of molecules acts on the proton pump to reduce the production of gastric acid. Inhibitors are prescribed to treat heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Rabeprazole, napronazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, omeprazole lead to kidney damage. According to a study of 125,000 patients using PPIs, the result was shocking. More than half of these people started to have chronic kidney problems.
Treatments for high blood pressure: Several types of medications are used to lower blood pressure. Captopril is one of these drugs, it is used to treat high blood pressure. This medication is contraindicated in patients with impaired renal function to prevent elevated drug concentrations and toxicity.
COX-2 inhibitors: commonly called coxibs, these drugs directly target the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase-2, to relieve pain and treat inflammation. Two types of coxibs were withdrawn from the market, rofecoxib and valdecoxib for their adverse effects on the kidneys and liver. An increased risk of cardiovascular disorders has also been observed in patients treated with these two drugs.
Antivirals: They are administered in the event of a viral infection. Antivirals are a very effective method for fighting viruses, but some drugs and molecules can be very dangerous to our kidneys, such as aciclovir, indinavir or tenofovir.
Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis: For the relief and control of rheumatoid arthritis, drugs such as chloroquine, hydrochloroquine and infliximab may be prescribed. Unfortunately, these three drugs can cause damage to the kidneys because of their accumulation in the body.
Anti-convulsants: They are used in the prevention and treatment of epilepsy and different forms of seizures. There are a large number of types of anticonvulsants that are likely to cause critical kidney damage, including trimethadione and phenytoin.
Chemotherapy: Tacrolimus, carboplatin, pamidronate, interferons, mitomycin C, quinine, bevacizumab, cyclosporine, as well as antithyroid drugs such as propylthiouracil, which are used to treat hyperactivity of the thyroid are also dangerous for kidneys.
Lithium: Used for the treatment of bipolar disorders, lithium salts unfortunately have toxic effects on the kidneys. Long-term use of lithium is associated with decreased renal function and chronic renal failure.
Antibiotics: They are used to fight bacterial infections by preventing their multiplication and eliminating them. Several families and types of antibiotics can harm the kidneys, such as vancomycin, meticillin, ciprofloxacin, sulfonamides (sulfamides). It is possible that in people with kidney failure antibiotic intake can cause serious damage by decreasing renal blood flow and by interacting directly with the cell membrane or through the production of intracellular toxins.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): This group of molecules acts on the proton pump to reduce the production of gastric acid. Inhibitors are prescribed to treat heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Rabeprazole, napronazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, omeprazole lead to kidney damage. According to a study of 125,000 patients using PPIs, the result was shocking. More than half of these people started to have chronic kidney problems.
Treatments for high blood pressure: Several types of medications are used to lower blood pressure. Captopril is one of these drugs, it is used to treat high blood pressure. This medication is contraindicated in patients with impaired renal function to prevent elevated drug concentrations and toxicity.
COX-2 inhibitors: commonly called coxibs, these drugs directly target the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase-2, to relieve pain and treat inflammation. Two types of coxibs were withdrawn from the market, rofecoxib and valdecoxib for their adverse effects on the kidneys and liver. An increased risk of cardiovascular disorders has also been observed in patients treated with these two drugs.
Antivirals: They are administered in the event of a viral infection. Antivirals are a very effective method for fighting viruses, but some drugs and molecules can be very dangerous to our kidneys, such as aciclovir, indinavir or tenofovir.
Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis: For the relief and control of rheumatoid arthritis, drugs such as chloroquine, hydrochloroquine and infliximab may be prescribed. Unfortunately, these three drugs can cause damage to the kidneys because of their accumulation in the body.
Anti-convulsants: They are used in the prevention and treatment of epilepsy and different forms of seizures. There are a large number of types of anticonvulsants that are likely to cause critical kidney damage, including trimethadione and phenytoin.
Chemotherapy: Tacrolimus, carboplatin, pamidronate, interferons, mitomycin C, quinine, bevacizumab, cyclosporine, as well as antithyroid drugs such as propylthiouracil, which are used to treat hyperactivity of the thyroid are also dangerous for kidneys.
Lithium: Used for the treatment of bipolar disorders, lithium salts unfortunately have toxic effects on the kidneys. Long-term use of lithium is associated with decreased renal function and chronic renal failure.