If you have high blood pressure and take medicine for it, you may want to think carefully before using ibuprofen when you have pain.
A new study from the University of Waterloo has found that combining ibuprofen with common blood pressure drugs could increase the risk of serious kidney damage.
Many people with high blood pressure take a mix of two types of medications. One type is called diuretics, which help the body get rid of extra water and lower blood pressure. The other type is called renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors.
These help relax the blood vessels so blood can move more easily. These two medicines are often used together and are sold under different brand names.
Ibuprofen is a painkiller that you can buy without a prescription. It is often used to treat headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, and other common pains. While it works well, this study shows that if you take it along with diuretics and RAS inhibitors, your kidneys could be in trouble.
The researchers used computer models to study how the three drugs affect the body. They found that this drug combination can sometimes cause the kidneys to suddenly stop working. This is called acute kidney injury. In some cases, the damage might not go away.
The reason this happens is that each of these three drugs puts stress on the kidneys in a different way. Diuretics make you lose water, which can lead to dehydration. RAS inhibitors affect how blood moves through the kidneys. Ibuprofen can lower blood flow to the kidneys even more.
When all three drugs are taken together, the kidneys may become overwhelmed. Doctors sometimes call this the “triple whammy” effect.
This doesn’t mean everyone who takes these drugs will have kidney problems. But the risk is higher for people with other health issues or who are more sensitive to changes in hydration and blood flow.
Because of this, the researchers say people should be careful. If you take diuretics and RAS inhibitors, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using ibuprofen. There may be safer choices.
For example, acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) is another pain medicine that doesn’t affect the kidneys the same way and may be a better option if you’re taking blood pressure drugs.
Dr. Anita Layton, who led the study, said many people don’t know that over-the-counter medicines can interact with their prescription drugs. This study shows how important it is to be careful, even with medicine you can buy at the store.
To stay safe, always talk to your healthcare provider before starting a new medicine, even something as common as ibuprofen. Looking after your kidneys now can help avoid serious problems later and make sure your blood pressure treatment works well.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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