10 drugs that can damage your kidneys
Almost all drugs can affect the kidneys in some adverse way. But these 10 drugs are known to damage kidneys quite often.
- Certain antibiotics – aminoglycosides (e.g. gentamicin) and beta-lactams (cephalosporins, penicillins)
- Lithium – a bipolar disease mood stabiliser
- Acyclovir and ganciclovir (antivirals)
- Certain blood pressure tablets – angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors, e.g. ramipril), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs, e.g. losartan). [“Yes, it is confusing that such drugs are potentially harmful to the kidneys and protective of them, at the same time.” CKDEx Ed”]
- Cisplatin – a form of chemotherapy (and other chemotherapeutic agents)
- Intravenous (IV) contrast agents (dyes) – causing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) – used during x-rays such as CTs and angiograms
- Diuretics (water tablets) – all diuretics including thiazide (e.g. bendroflumethazide), loop (furosemide and bumetanide) and potassium-sparing (spironolactone)
- Chinese herbal medicines – such as aristolochic acid
- Calcineurin inhibitors tacrolimus and ciclosporin – immunosuppressants
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) – such as lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and omeprazole.
The above list is by no means a comprehensive list of medications that can cause kidney damage. You are at higher risk of drug-induced kidney damage if you are over 60 years, have underlying CKD, or comorbidities such as diabetes. If this is the case, you should talk to your doctor before starting any new medication that can potentially cause kidney damage.
Stopping or using the minimum dose of these tablets can help prevent CKD.
But please do not stop the tablets above if you think they are becoming nephrotoxic (kidney damaging). Speak to your doctor urgently.
Summary
We have described 10 drugs that can damage your kidneys. We hope it has been helpful.
Last Reviewed on 19 April 2024