Diuretics and RSA inhibitors are commonly prescribed together for the management of hypertension. As for NSAID pain relievers such as ibuprofen, they are available over the counter in most pharmacies. The Canadian team models here the interactions of the 3 drugs and their impact on the kidneys. The analysis concludes that in some patients the combination can cause acute kidney damage, which in some cases may be permanent.
A risk of permanent kidney damage
Not all patients taking this combination will experience these adverse effects, says lead author Dr Anita Layton, Professor of Applied Mathematics at Waterloo: “however our modeling shows a level of risk such that caution should be exercised”. In other words, the kidney health of patients taking these 3 drugs should be monitored.
A valuable methodology for doctors: beyond this important result, the methodology adopted in the study, i.e. computer-simulated drug testing, proves to be valuable because it makes it possible to provide results on drug interactions very quickly, and much faster than clinical trials. “classics”.
“This type of modeling gives physicians a head start on drug interactions.”
The message is also directly addressed to patients who are on blood pressure medication and who may be taking an ibuprofen painkiller without knowing…Diuretics are a family of drugs that can induce dehydration, which is a major factor in acute kidney injury.
If taking these blood pressure medications and needing a painkiller, the authors suggest opting for paracetamol instead.
