Top News

Today, it has become a common habit of most people to buy painkillers (painkillers) from the medical store and consume them as soon as they feel headache, toothache, body ache or slight pain in the joints. But these frequently taken over-the-counter (OTC) pills can silently destroy your body's most sensitive organ—the kidneys. Senior nephrologists (kidney specialists) say that kidney failure in many young and elderly patients coming to dialysis units and OPDs is being directly linked to excessive use of painkillers for a long time without medical advice. In medical science, this condition is called 'Analgesic Nephropathy', where pain medications directly disrupt kidney function. How do pain medicines destroy kidneys? Understand Medical Science: Most of the painkillers commonly available in stores belong to the NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) class—such as Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Aceclofenac, Naproxen and Mefenamic Acid. Sudden interruption of blood flow: When you take NSAIDs, they block enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) that cause pain and inflammation in the body. But along with this it also stops the formation of a chemical called 'Prostaglandins'. The main function of prostaglandins is to dilate the blood vessels leading to the kidneys so that the kidneys receive adequate blood and oxygen. As soon as this chemical is blocked, the blood flow in the kidneys suddenly drops significantly. Drying of filtering nephrons: Due to continuous lack of blood, the microscopic filtering units (Glomeruli and Tubules) of the kidney start getting damaged, due to which toxins stop being filtered from the blood and serum creatinine and urea levels start increasing rapidly. Which patients are most at risk? Although uncontrolled use of painkillers can harm the kidneys of any healthy person, but for some sections it is as dangerous as poison: Diabetes and high blood pressure patients: The blood vessels of the kidneys of these patients are already under pressure, in such a situation even a single dose of painkiller can trigger 'Acute Kidney Injury' (AKI). Adults over 60: The kidney's GFR (filtering capacity) naturally decreases with age. Dehydration condition: When there is lack of water in the body or painkillers are taken after exposure to sunlight/vomiting and diarrhoea, then its side effects on the kidneys increase manifold. Patients with heart failure or liver cirrhosis: In such people, blood circulation is already weak, due to which the kidneys immediately become vulnerable to toxicity. Don't ignore these initial symptoms at all. The scariest thing about analgesic nephropathy is that it does not show any obvious symptoms in the initial stages. By the time symptoms appear, 60 to 70 percent of the kidneys have become inactive. Still, keep an eye out for these signs: Swelling in the feet, ankles and under the eyes in the morning. Decrease in the amount of urine or foamy urine. Extreme fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite without any effort. Persistent itching on the skin and a bitter or metallic taste in the mouth. Sudden uncontrolled increase in blood pressure. What are the safe options and how to protect yourself? Nephrologists clearly suggest that instead of suppressing the pain, its root cause should be treated: Paracetamol is safer: For mild to moderate headache or body ache, Paracetamol in fixed doses (maximum 2-3 grams a day) is considered to be much safer for the kidneys than NSAIDs (provided there is no liver disease). Local ointments and compresses: Instead of swallowing pills for joint or back pain, use hot/cold compresses, physiotherapy and pain-relieving gels or sprays, because these do not dissolve in the blood and reach the kidneys directly. Do not take medicine for more than 3 days without consulting a doctor: If for some reason you have to take a painkiller, then take it in the lowest effective dose and never for more than 2-3 days continuously. Drink plenty of water while taking the medicine: Never take painkillers on an empty stomach or in a state of dehydration; Drinking enough water reduces the effect of toxicity.