Ibuprofen can harm kidneys

Hypertension patients, take note. Using ibuprofen in combination with drugs that are commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure could lead to permanent kidney damage, a new study suggests. Researchers at the University of Waterloo used computer-simulated drug trials to examine the potential effects of combining the over-the-counter painkillers with diuretics and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, also known as RSA inhibitors, both of which are used to treat hypertension. They found that the three-medication therapy, which doctors often prescribe as a “triple whammy,” appeared to present a 31 percent higher risk for acute kidney injury compared with simulated patients given diuretics and RSA inhibitors alone. The mock trials suggest that certain individuals could be particularly susceptible, including those with an impaired myogenic response—the mechanism that regulates the diameter of blood vessels—and those with an increased sensitivity to drugs or a low water intake. “It’s not that everyone who happens to take this combination of drugs is going to have problems,” lead author Anita Layton tells ScienceDaily.com. “But the research shows it’s enough of a problem that you should exercise caution.”