Many people take medicine for high blood pressure every day to stay healthy. At the same time, they might also use common painkillers like ibuprofen when they have a headache, muscle pain, or inflammation.
But a new study from the University of Waterloo warns that mixing these two kinds of medicine could be dangerous, especially for your kidneys.
High blood pressure is often treated with two types of medications: diuretics and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors. Diuretics help the body get rid of extra water and salt, which helps lower blood pressure.
RAS inhibitors work by relaxing the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood. These medicines are often used together and are important for people with hypertension.
Ibuprofen, found in many over-the-counter drugs, is very common and easy to buy. But the researchers found that when people take ibuprofen along with diuretics and RAS inhibitors, it could lead to serious kidney problems.
To find out why, the researchers used computer models to study how these drugs interact inside the body. They found that this combination could sometimes cause acute kidney injury. That means the kidneys suddenly stop working properly. In serious cases, this damage might not go away.
Why does this happen? It’s because all three drugs affect how the kidneys work. Diuretics lower the body’s water levels, which can make you dehydrated. RAS inhibitors change how blood flows to the kidneys.
Then, when ibuprofen is added, it puts even more stress on the kidneys. This is called the “triple whammy” effect. When all three medicines are taken together, the kidneys may not be able to handle the pressure.
This doesn’t mean that everyone who takes these drugs will have kidney problems. But for some people—especially those with other health issues—this drug combination could be risky.
The good news is that there may be safer options. If you need pain relief and are already taking diuretics and RAS inhibitors, you might want to choose acetaminophen (also called paracetamol). It can help with pain but does not put the same stress on the kidneys.
The lead researcher, Anita Layton, says this is a reminder to be careful about drug interactions. Even medicines you can buy without a prescription can be harmful when mixed with other drugs. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using ibuprofen, especially if you take blood pressure medications.
Being aware of these risks can help you protect your kidneys and stay safe while treating both your blood pressure and your pain.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about common blood pressure medication that may extend your healthy life span and common high blood pressure drug linked to sudden cardiac arrest.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that timing matters when taking high blood pressure pills and 1 in 5 people with high blood pressure taking a drug worsen the disease.
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