“Eight Pills You Shouldn’t Take Because They Damage Your Kidneys” — Is That True?

This headline is too absolute. There isn’t a universal list of eight pills that everyone should avoid. Some medicines can injure the kidneys, while others are perfectly appropriate when used at the correct dose and with appropriate monitoring. The risk is especially important in people who already have reduced kidney function.

Some medication groups that can cause kidney problems in certain circumstances include:

1. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs — including naproxen, diclofenac and celecoxib. Long-term or high-dose use can reduce blood flow to the kidneys and cause acute kidney injury or worsen chronic kidney disease.
2. High-dose aspirin — doses above about 325 mg/day can act like an NSAID; this is different from low-dose aspirin prescribed for cardiovascular protection.
3. Certain antibiotics — some can directly injure the kidneys or accumulate when kidney function is reduced, requiring dose adjustment.
4. Certain antiviral and antifungal medicines — some require kidney-dose adjustments and some can be nephrotoxic.
5. Lithium — long-term treatment can affect kidney function and requires monitoring.
6. Some proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) — such as omeprazole and similar drugs have been associated with kidney problems, although they can still be appropriate when medically indicated.
7. Oral sodium-phosphate bowel preparations — these can cause serious kidney injury in susceptible people and aren’t appropriate for everyone.
8. Some transplant medicines, particularly calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine, can affect kidney function but are often essential and carefully monitored