Anti-inflammatory medications and kidney disease
Anti-inflammatory medications used for pain, headaches or fever may harm your kidneys, and can increase blood pressure.
Below is a list of commonly used pain medications that should be avoided in patients with kidney disease:
- Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in doses greater than 325mg per day (Aspirin®, Entrophen®, 222®, Robaxisal®)
- Celecoxib (Celebrex®)
- Diclofenac (Voltaren®, Arthrotec®)
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, some formulations of Midol®)
- Indomethacin (Novo-Methacin®)
- Ketorolac (Toradol®) excluding eye drops
- Meloxicam (Mobicox®)
- Naproxen (Aleve®, Menstridol®, Midol Extended Relief®)
- Sulindac (Apo-Sulin®)
If you are unsure or are prescribed any other pain medications, including suppositories, creams, ointments, gels or drops, please discuss this with your kidney doctor or member of your kidney care team, as these may also contain anti-inflammatory medications that may be harmful to the kidneys.
Natural /herbal/traditional remedies and supplements purchased from health food stores may also have a negative effect on the kidneys. These products should be discussed with your kidney doctor or member of your kidney care team prior to use.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a pain medication that can be safely used in kidney disease when used at appropriate doses. This medication relieves pain and fever. If you have liver problems please check with your health care provider.
Before purchasing any over the counter medication, or filling a new prescription for pain, please let your pharmacy and all your health care providers know that you have kidney disease.
- Dr. S. Albert: 416-480-6950
- Dr. M. Oliver: 416-480-4755
- Dr. S. Tobe: 416-480-5895
- Dr. G. Tanna: 416-480-4976
- Dr. M. Hladunewich: 416-480-4773
- Dr. D. Naimark: 416-480-4773
- Dr. A. Zahirieh: 416-480-4976
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Nephrology division
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Kidney Care Centre at the CNIB Centre
1929 Bayview Ave., 3rd floor
Toronto, ON M4G 3E8
Phone:
416-480-6100 ext. 63863
Email:
SunnybrookNephrology@sunnybrook.ca
Division Head:
Dr. Matthew Oliver
Dialysis unit
Phone: 416-480-4488
Fax: 416-480-4485
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All appointments (including questions about, or changes to appointments) MUST be coordinated by your care team. Clinic patients are now seen at the CNIB Satellite Centre, with the exception of the HIV Renal Disease Clinic, and the Pregnancy and Kidney Disease (PreKID) Clinic; these two clinics remain at Sunnybrook's (main) Bayview Campus.
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Each of our clinics manage their own referral process. Please refer to our clinic information page for referral details and documentation requirements.
