If you watch TV, you may have seen ads like Advil and Aleeve, which promote the daily use of their pain-relieving products. These pain medicines are unique in the sense that they don’t require prescriptions, but many people don’t know that these can actually hurt the kidneys. In one of my first blogs, I explained that Dr. Shakil always asks patients if they take these pain medications, specifically Advil. The reason he does it is because if too many are taken in a day, it could significantly reduce kidney function. Many people are unaware of this, and as a result they take too many pills without knowing the dangerous risk they are taking. According to the National Kidney Foundation, approximately 3-5% of new patients diagnosed with kidney failure are due to the overuse of such pain medications. When I first read this statistic, I was pretty confused. How much is “too much,” and do the labels not make it clear that your kidneys are at risk? I asked Dr. Shakil about the exact dosage kidney patients should take, if they should be taking any at all. He explained that the maximum dosage that is generally safe for regular people is 800 milligrams. For kidney patients, this dosage is extremely harmful and could cause a lot of damage. If patients are having a lot of pain, it is ok to prescribe 200-400 milligrams once a day. Overall, it is better to avoid these medications for daily use. As shown in the picture, the label on the back of the Advil bottle does not mention the harm it can do to your kidneys. Since this is an over-the-counter medication, it is allowed to be more lenient on what the label says. Prescription medications, on the other hand, are thoroughly tested by the FDA, so everything must be clear on the label. If too many of these pain medications are taken, then papillary necrosis will occur. This happens when blood flow is constricted to the outer parts of the kidneys, and the tissues slowly begin to die. Sources: "Analgesic Nephropathy." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/analgesic-nephropathy>. "Renal Papillary Necrosis." American Urological Association - Renal Papillary Necrosis. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <https://www.auanet.org/education/modules/pathology/kidney-lesions/papillary-necrosis.cfm>.
1 Comment
Raylene Streuber
5/1/2017 02:46:56 pm
Holy cow! Such a shame that this info isn't printed clearly on the label. Just goes to show that patients should ALWAYS consult their doctor before taking any over the counter medication.
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AuthorMuhammad Ali Archives
May 2017
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