Medications that Cause Kidney Failure
Prescription and over-the-counter medications are designed to treat the symptoms or underlying causes of many diseases and medical conditions. While many are effective, some have severe side effects that can be life-threatening. One possible side effect of prescription and OTC medications is kidney failure. Learn about medications that cause kidney failure so you can determine if a drug is the right one for you.
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Gadolinium Contrast
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Gadolinium is a chemical contrast used to enhance the images produced by MRI and CT scanners. An individual who does not have existing kidney problems should not worry about the administration of gadolinium during an imaging test. However, an individual with kidney damage or renal insufficiency could develop a disease called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis if gadolinium is used as a contrast material. This causes a thickening of the skin, body organs and other tissues and has no cure. Gadolinium also can worsen kidney failure or cause an individual with no prior kidney problems to enter into acute kidney failure.
Antibiotics
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Aminoglycoside antibiotics can cause nephrotoxicity, which is a buildup of toxins in the kidneys. According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology, antibiotics in this group cause renal enzyme changes that are associated with a deterioration in kidney function. Individuals who have been diagnosed with kidney disease or kidney failure should not take aminoglycoside antibiotics unless other antibiotic therapies have been ineffective. If this type of antibiotic must be taken, the patient may be monitored with blood and urine tests to ensure that a severe decline in kidney function does not occur.
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ACE Inhibitors
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Angiotensin II increases the rate at which the kidneys can filter waste products out of the blood. ACE inhibitors prevent angiotensin I from being converted to angiotensin II, so there is less angiotensin II available to help the kidneys filter out wastes. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that anyone who takes ACE inhibitor should be tested for levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and potassium shortly after the drug is started. These values are indicators of kidney function and abnormal values can help doctors determine if the ACE inhibitor has caused a decline in kidney function.
Angiotensin II Recptor Blockers
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Angiotensin II receptor blockers affect renal function much like ACE inhibitors can cause a decrease in kidney function. These drugs are given to treat high blood pressure and block the effects of angiotensin. Angiotensin causes the blood vessels to constrict, so blocking the effects of angiotensin allows the blood vessels to dilate to reduce blood pressure. However, this reduces the amount of angiotensin available for increasing the rate at which the kidneys filter waste products. This can lead to a decrease in kidney function and eventual kidney failure.
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen are known to cause acute kidney failure. Much like angiotensin helps to increase the filtration rate of the kidneys, prostaglandins also increase the glomerular filtration rate. Prostaglandins are local hormones that participate in the dilation and constriction of vessels, contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscles and inflammatory processes. Because NSAIDs block prostaglandin production, they can lead to a decrease in the kidney filtration rate and eventually cause acute renal failure.
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