Kidney Diseases—Drug Reactions

Also called: Side effects

Most of the time, medicines make our lives better. They reduce aches and pains, fight infections, and control problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. But medicines can also cause unwanted reactions.

One problem is interactions, which may occur between

• Two drugs, such as aspirin and blood thinners
• Drugs and food, such as statins and grapefruit
• Drugs and supplements, such as ginkgo and blood thinners
• Drugs and diseases, such as aspirin and peptic ulcers

Interactions can change the actions of one or both drugs. The drugs might not work, or you could get side effects.

Side effects are unwanted effects caused by the drugs. Most are mild, such as a stomach aches or drowsiness, and go away after you stop taking the drug. Others can be more serious.

Drug allergies are another type of reaction. They can be mild or life-threatening. Skin reactions, such as hives and rashes, are the most common type. Anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction, is more rare.

When you start a new prescription or over-the-counter medication, make sure you understand how to take it correctly. Know which other medications and foods you need to avoid. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

• Angioedema (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Drug allergies (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Drug-induced diarrhea (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Drug-induced tremor (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Taking multiple medicines safely (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Renal disease

You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. They are near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney there are about a million tiny structures called nephrons. They filter your blood. They remove wastes and extra water, which become urine. The urine flows through tubes called ureters. It goes to your bladder, which stores the urine until you go to the bathroom.

Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons. This damage may leave kidneys unable to remove wastes. Causes can include genetic problems, injuries, or medicines. You have a higher risk of kidney disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a close family member with kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease damages the nephrons slowly over several years. Other kidney problems include

• Cancer
• Cysts
• Stones
• Infections

Your doctor can do blood and urine tests to check if you have kidney disease. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• ACE inhibitors (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Acute nephritic syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Analgesic nephropathy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Atheroembolic renal disease (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bartter syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bilateral hydronephrosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Congenital nephrotic syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Distal renal tubular acidosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Glomerulonephritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Goodpasture syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)
• IgA nephropathy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Injury – kidney and ureter (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Interstitial nephritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Kidney removal (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Kidney removal – discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Medicines and Kidney Disease – NIH (National Kidney Disease Education Program)
• Membranoproliferative GN I (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Membranous nephropathy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Minimal change disease (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nephrocalcinosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nephrotic syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Obstructive uropathy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Perirenal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Proximal renal tubular acidosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Reflux nephropathy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Renal papillary necrosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Renal vein thrombosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Unilateral hydronephrosis (Medical Encyclopedia)