Ibuprofen Can Cause Kidney Injury When Used in Combination with Some Medications

With cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in adults worldwide, prescribing safe and effective anti-hypertensive therapies is of great concern. 

However, a common combination of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), with diuretics and easily accessible over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause kidney damage.

Precautions if taking these medications

According to a new study published in the journal Mathematical Biosciences, concurrent use of a diuretic, a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor, and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) significantly increase the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI).

The researchers from the University of Waterloo used computer-simulated drug trials to model the interactions of these drugs and their impact on kidney injury. 

According to the team, anyone taking these medications should be cautious about also taking ibuprofen, and would recommend considering acetaminophen instead. 

Source:

Jessica Leete, et al. Determining risk factors for triple whammy acute kidney injury. 2022. Mathematical Biosciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mbs.2022.108809 

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