If this is meant as a health-information headline, I’d avoid saying “should not be taken” without qualification. Several medicines can affect kidney function, but whether they are unsafe depends on the person’s kidney function, dose, duration, hydration, and other medicines.
Eight medicines that can be risky for your kidneys
- Ibuprofen — an NSAID that can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, particularly with high doses or prolonged use.
- Naproxen — another NSAID with similar kidney risks, especially in people with chronic kidney disease.
- Diclofenac tablets/capsules — an NSAID that may worsen kidney function, particularly with long-term or high-dose use.
- Celecoxib — although it is a different type of NSAID, it can still affect kidney blood flow and requires caution in people with kidney disease.
- Meloxicam — another NSAID that can pose kidney risks, especially at higher doses or with prolonged treatment.
- Lithium — can require special monitoring because kidney function affects how lithium is cleared, and long-term treatment can affect the kidneys.
- Certain antibiotics — some are eliminated through the kidneys and may require dose adjustments; some can also cause kidney injury.
- Oral sodium-phosphate bowel preparations — these can cause serious kidney problems in susceptible people and are particularly concerning with CKD, older age, dehydration, or certain other medicines.
Important: This does not mean you should stop a prescribed medicine. Some drugs that require kidney monitoring—such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, diuretics, and certain diabetes medicines—can actually be beneficial and are routinely used in people with kidney disease. The dose or monitoring may simply need adjustment.
