An Important Warning About Pain Relievers and Kidney Failure

Millions of people take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, actaminophen, aspirin, naproxen and sodium every day without any ill effects. As long as the normal dosage recommendation is followed and is for a short period of time, normally all is well.

However, dosages taken over the recommended amounts of these drugs or for an extended period of time can cause kidney damage, even resulting in renal failure.

Professional athletes have fallen victim to kidney damage from ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is a popular pain reliever among athletes in that it not only relieves pain, but reduces inflammation in tired and aching muscles. Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat and Sean Elliot of the San Antonio Spurs underwent kidney transplants. Another professional athlete, Kenny Easley, of the Seattle Seahawks, lost a kidney which he attributes to at one point, taking as much as 32 ibuprofen tablets on a daily basis for a several month time period.

If this report is not shocking enough, the National Kidney Foundation is reporting a full 10 percent of kidney failures are due to overuse of pain killers. This is a virtual epidemic. We are destroying our kidneys in the name of relieving pain!

Ibruprofen can be especially dangerous in that people with mild kidney disease, who may not know they have the disease, can bring on kidney failure by overuse. Often, the damage can be stopped by stopping the use of the drug. However, long term pain killer abuse can lead to permanent kidney damage requiring a kidney transplant or dialysis treatment. Acute kidney failure is the sudden onset kidney failure involving a single high-dose incident and may be reversed and. Permanent kidney damage caused by years of overuse of pain killers is called analgesic nephropathy.

People need to stop popping pain killers like candy. Try alternative pain relief methods. Some effective methods that may help relieve pain are meditation, behavior modification, rest and other relaxation techniques. If serious pain requires the use of a pain killer, make sure not to over medicate yourself and consult your physician if you begin experiencing any symptoms associated with kidney failure such as extreme fatigue, itching, headaches, weight loss, appetite loss or nausea. For more information contact:

American Kidney Fund

Or the

National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

Sources:

Ibuprofen- Friend or Foe?

Analgesic Nephropathy (Painkillers and the Kidneys)

Kidney Peril Found in the Pain Reliever Ibuprofen