Medication

Your kidneys  filter impurities from your blood. Your body works extra hard to filter dangerous materials (such as alcohol, street drugs or even too many prescription medications), from your blood.

This means that if you have too many drugs or chemicals in your bloodstream, your kidneys will have to work extremely hard.  Even if you only take over-the-counter (non-prescription) medication, you can damage your kidneys by taking too many.

Your kidneys work to take these materials out of your blood and pass them on to your bladder to be excreted.

Your kidneys are tough, but not invincible.

Causing your kidneys to work overtime can damage them. You might end up with immediate and temporary kidney failure, or your kidneys could be silently and slowly damaged over years, ending in permanent (chronic) kidney failure.

Discussing what drugs, vitamins and medicines you are taking with your physician will help you decide what is level is appropriate for your health and your kidneys’ well-being. Be sure to include how many times a day you are taking the drug, as well as how many you take at a time.

Medications

Medications can be very beneficial when taken correctly. Here are some tips to prevent problems from occurring:

• Talk with your doctor! If you are on a prescription medication, be sure to take the right dosage at the right times.

• Consult with your doctor if you have been taking over-the-counter medications, but your symptoms are not relieved.

• If you are on long-term treatment with one of the legal medications mentioned, request that your kidney function be checked periodically.

• Avoid the overuse of over-the-counter medications. Take only those that are necessary. Ask your pharmacist for assistance in choosing the safest products.

The people with at greatest risk for drug induced kidney failure have previous heart, liver and previous kidney problems. These people should be carefully monitored by a physician when taking any medications.

Remember, kidney failure can be a slow and silent destroyer. People with chronic health conditions (including mental health issues like depression or anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain,  or severe headaches) tend to take more prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Since the misuse of laxatives and diet pills can cause kidney damage, people who suffer from eating disorders are at great risk since abusing these types of medication is common in that population.