Self-Prescription of Over-The-Counter Drugs May be Damaging Your Kidneys

Most of us have a mini-chemist in our homes. We have stashed pain medications and other self-prescribed drugs in our cabinets. Overindulgence in everyday medications, notably, can harm our kidneys over time. Over-the-counter and prescription medications cause 20% of kidney damage.

That local pharmacist could be a business person out to make sales to make ends meet, with total disregard for your future well-being.

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A stubborn headache could be a way the body senging a warning signal. Maybe it’s time not just to numb it with the anti-pain meds but to check its root cause. It could be High blood pressure in the head, what medics call intracranial hypertension or rather a dehydrative effect that denies the body enough water, leading to higher serum osmolality, resulting in passing very concentrated dark urine as a compensatory mechanism to try and limit more water loses or still a concealed major health problem.

Common medications that can damage kidneys with extensive use include:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) pain medications such as NSAIDs aspirin, diclofenac, ibuprofen etc.
  • Antibiotics misuse
  • Antiacids such as lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec)
  • Blood pressure medications

By by Yegah E. Nyakiamo – Renal Department.

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