Ibuprofen and Kidney Disease

By now you know I am not a fan of medications, however, there are times that I will recommend to my patients to take anti-inflammatories (i.e. ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen). Obviously, these are not meant for long-term use.Heavy or long-term use of some of these medicines, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and higher dose aspirin, can cause chronic kidney disease known as chronic interstitial nephritis. The warning labels on over-the-counter analgesics tell you not to use these medicines for more than l0 days for pain and more than three days for fever. If you have pain and/or fever for a longer time, you should consult a healthcare provider.If you have decreased kidney function, painkillers called NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and higher dose aspirin are not recommended. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safer for occasional use in patients with kidney disease because of bleeding complications that may occur when these patients use aspirin. However, kidney patients who need to use acetaminophen habitually should be supervised by their doctors and be sure to avoid drinking alcohol while on this medicine. Even with normal kidney function, you should use analgesics:

• Exactly as prescribed or as on the label
• At the lowest dose possible
• For the shortest period of time

In addition to damaging the kidneys, NSAIDs can lead to stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding and even increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.If you want to avoid NSAIDs all together, a number of homeopathic anti-inflammatories exist; and several herbs are known to help fight inflammation in the body. Next time you are in the office, ask about the NSAIDs alternatives that are available.