OTC Medicines: What People with Kidney Disease Should Know

To continue with information I posted earlier this week on Herbal Supplements and CKD this article is from Davita and can be found on davita.com and searched for with the title above. All references used in the article are also posted here.

When you have kidney disease, some commonly used medicines may negatively affect your health. Others could actually help, such as preventing a heart attack. That’s why it’s important to consult your doctor and know what to look for on medicine labels before you head to the drugstore.

We’ve put together a list of medicines/ingredients and potential side effects to consider when discussing over-the-counter (OTC) options with your doctor. Always check with your doctor before taking any medication, vitamin or supplement to determine what is appropriate for your specific situation. Recommendations can vary for each individual depending on the stage of kidney disease.

Medicine/IngredientAilmentPotential Side Effects

1. Decongestants

Cold/Flu

Can raise heart rate and blood pressure and affect blood-sugar levels

2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)

Pain

Can decrease blood flow to the kidneys and raise blood pressure

3. Aspirin

Pain

Can increase the risk of bleeding and potentially reduce kidney function

4. Aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide

Indigestion

Can build up in kidneys to toxic levels

5. Oral rehydration powder/salts

Diarrhea

Contain sodium and potassium

6. Laxatives

Constipation

Can upset electrolyte balance

7. Herbal medicines, vitamins, and supplements

Can interact with medications and may contain potassium, phosphorus or other minerals

Also, talk to your doctor about the possibility of addressing health issues with proper diet, exercise and rest, rather than medication. Taking good care of yourself naturally can go a long way in both avoiding ailments and resolving them.

Finally, make sure you take your medications exactly as directed and inform your doctor of all the medicines you take: OTC drugs, prescriptions, herbal medicines, vitamins, and supplements. Keep a list and take it with you to your medical appointments—kidney related and not. You can also make others aware of your condition by wearing a medical alert bracelet (available online and at most drugstores).

Many medicines have become available over the counter in recent years, making it easier to manage medications but also easier to consume ingredients that could be harmful if you have CKD. Always check with your doctor before you take an OTC medicine—no matter how harmless it may seem.

Sources

“5 Drugs You May Need to Avoid or Adjust if you have Kidney Disease.” The National Kidney Foundation. 2016. kidney.org/atoz/content/5-d...

“Over the Counter Medicine.” Kidney Research UK. 2013. kidneyresearchuk.org/health...

“Chronic Kidney Disease: A Patient’s Guide” Chester H. Rox, M.D.; Brian Murray, M.D.; Romesh Kohil, M.D.; George Marinedes, M.D. SUNY Clinical Center. fammed.buffalo.edu/unynet/f...

“Kidney Disease: Medicines You Should Avoid.” CardioSmart. American College of Cardiology. Healthwise 2007-2015. cardiosmart.org/~/media/Doc...

“Antacids and Your Kidneys.” Duluth Kidney Services. 2015. duluthkidneyservices.com/an...

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Great information. One thing that was suggested to me was to have my regular prescriptions also reviewed by a pharmacist to see if there is any potassium, phosphorus or sodium related concerns with them.

[Hidden in reply to Bassetmommer]

If you remind your Care Team members of your health issues each time they prescribe a medication, check it out yourself on drugs.com and then before you fill it speak to your pharmacist then you are doing all you can to be proactive. Remember, that won't preclude you from having a reaction to a specific medication. I had this happen to me with Lisinopril. Nothing could have prevented that but you do have to be wary.

All short-term medications I have filled at a local pharmacy but with my Part D insurance I use a mail-order pharmacy but I still run it all through my local pharmacist.