Before taking any medicine, speak with your pharmacist or other members of your healthcare team to make sure your medicines won't hurt your kidneys. A pharmacist is someone who prepares your medicines and answers your questions about how to take them. You can let your pharmacist know about your CKD so they can review your medicines with you. Be sure to tell them if you're taking any vitamins, minerals, herbs, or non-prescription drugs.
Many prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications are filtered by the kidneys. This means that normal kidneys remove medicines from the body. When your kidneys aren't working well, certain medicines can build up and cause you harm. Exposure to intravenous contrast dyes (put in your veins) used in imaging (MRI, CT or angiograms) can also cause kidney damage, so be sure to speak with your healthcare team before scheduling one of these tests.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a specific group of pain medicines. Some NSAIDs are available over the counter. This includes different brands of ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. NSAIDs are usually safe for occasional use when taken as directed, but if you have CKD, they should be avoided. NSAIDs may cause an increased risk of sudden kidney failure and even progressive kidney damage. You can speak with a clinician about other solutions for managing pain.
To lower your chances of kidney damage due to medicines:
- Do not take any medicine, drug, or substance unless you are under a healthcare professional's supervision.
- Do not take pills or substances given to you by a stranger or even a friend.
- If you do take a medicine or other substance and feel ill, contact your healthcare professional immediately.
- If you need to have an imaging test or colonoscopy, let your healthcare professional know if you have kidney disease or are at risk for getting it.
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