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Suggest Treatment For Early Signs Of Kidney Dysfunction

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Posted on Mon, 2 Feb 2015
Question: Hello I think I am experiencing early signs of kidney dysfunction.

My question is metformin good or bad for the kidneys also is aspirin good or bad.
Also what is the first medicines for early kidney dysfunction.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please describe your symptoms

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

describing why you think that you have a kidney problem, might help.
Metformin is contraindicated in chronic kidney disease, particulary when the glomerular filtration rate is below 60ml/min, although some doctors continue to prescribe it to patients until renal function has deteriorated even more.
Metformin may help a patient with diabetes achieve a better glucose control and help the kidneys cope with diabetes detrimental effects.
Aspirin may help with vascular damage too, by reducing thrombotic complications. Normally it does no harm to the kidneys in the low doses that is commonly used (80-100mg). In higher doses though it has the same effects as the other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and may even cause acute renal failure particularly in a dehydrated patient.
There are no medicines specifically designed or used for kidney dysfunction but some medicines have shown better results than others in specific settings. Since you mentioned diabetes, angiotension receptor blockers (ARB) are supposed to have better kidney-saving results in patients with diabetes type 2 and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) are supposed to have better results in patients with type 1 diabetes.

I hope I've helped.
If you'd like more information, please provide the details about your condition including clinical and laboratory data, that may help me give a more personalized answer.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 days later)
Hello,

I was taking a diuretic,
how would I get off a diuretic without doing too much damage to the kidneys,
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
The diuretic is not supposed to harm your kidneys

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Diuretic use is not supposed to harm your kidneys unless it causes serious dehydration and you won't replenish the fluids, which would be very strange for a young individual like you! The most common diuretics won't work if severe kidney disease exists.

I still haven't got the details about the kidney problem you mentioned. Getting to know the exact situation would help for a more personalized answer.

Why do you want to stop the diuretic? What's your creatinine and body weight or your glomerular filtration rate?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
I have some mild itchyness and mild discomfort in the kidney area.
after I stopped A diuretic a few days later my urination became a lot less and I awoken the middle of the night with bad pains in the kidney pain area.
I took the diuretic and the bad pains went away.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
This is unlikely to be related to the diuretic

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

kidney damage, the way you described it, is painless. Diuretics make the kidney excrete more fluids but this is not a indication of good function. Actually the diuretic invokes a malfunction, because the kidney normally reabsorbs water and electrolytes. The diuretics make it reabsorb less.
Diuretics have also nothing to do with the itchiness or kidney area discomfort. Stopping a diuretic will very normally result in reduced urination. Provided that the heart and kidney function properly, a well hydrated individual will produce urine.
Kidney pain may be related to the obstruction of the ureters, an infection or a sudden tension on its capsule (due to injury and accumulation of blood, for example). Pain on the same area may be also caused by musculoskeletal causes like muscle sprains etc.
So in conclusion, I don't believe that your pain had anything to do with the condition you've described.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (28 hours later)
Do you think it's possoible I might have any inflammation of the kidneys or a blood clot.
these symptoms stated to occur after I took an antibiotic that sometimes reacts to the kidneys
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I don't think so!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Antibiotics cannot cause blood clot formation in the kidney, so this is not a likely scenario. Inflammation of the kidneys that causes discomfort (flank pain) is accompanied by high fever, so this is also unlikely.
Itchiness does not occur in any of the aforementioned conditions.

I've described renal causes of flank pain in my previous answer.
Other causes of flank pain include musculoskeletal problems like muscle sprains. Itchiness and perhaps an unpleasant sensation when touching it can be caused by skin problems (dermatitis, herpes zoster) but they are usually evident by redness, blisters etc. Please note that herpes zoster may not become visible until several days with discomfort have passed.

I hope I've helped you understand your condition better!
I'll be available to answer more questions, if you still have any.

Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (4 hours later)
Do you think the antibiotic levofloxacin with Sudafed and aspirin and metformin could have caused a bad reaction to my kidneys?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (24 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I can't say

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

You still haven't given me the information I've asked for, so I can't just guess what the problem is in your kidneys, if there is any. Therefore I cannot provide a personalized answer to your problem. I can give you general information about the drugs you mentioned though.

Levofloxacin may cause renal problems like interstitial nephritis or even acute renal failure. Both of them are painless conditions. The risk is low unless there is severe sepsis or other equally (or more) serious conditions.

The active regimen of Sudafed won't normally cause renal problems, if it's used according to prescription.

Aspirin in a low dose won't cause renal problems in healthy individuals. The risk may be different for special populations like the elderly, dehydrated patients, etc.
If you're talking about low doses like 80 or 100mg then the risk for renal problems is extremely low.

Metformin is not supposed to cause renal problems either.

The aforementioned general information applies when the drugs are used according to the doctor's prescription, without exceeding the normal dose range properly adjusted for age, renal and liver function or specific medical problems.

So the answer to your question is that levofloxacin and aspirin may cause renal problems, although rarely, under certain circumstances but I can't be more specific than that, because information is lacking regarding your condition in particular.

I hope you've found my answers helpful.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (2 days later)
Do you think I have those, what are the symptoms and treatment?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I cant' say, the questions is not clear

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

as I've told you before, I can't answer specific questions without data. I'll sum up important missing information that you have to provide if you want me to understand your situation better.
- urea and creatinine values (or GFR) and urinalysis report
- what was the problem in the first place (with the kidneys, I mean) ?
- your symtpoms or signs (blood in the urine, hypertension, etc)
- relevant lab tests (like a renal ultrasound scan)
- treatment regimen

I'll be waiting for your input.


Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Early Signs Of Kidney Dysfunction

Brief Answer: Please describe your symptoms Detailed Answer: Hello, describing why you think that you have a kidney problem, might help. Metformin is contraindicated in chronic kidney disease, particulary when the glomerular filtration rate is below 60ml/min, although some doctors continue to prescribe it to patients until renal function has deteriorated even more. Metformin may help a patient with diabetes achieve a better glucose control and help the kidneys cope with diabetes detrimental effects. Aspirin may help with vascular damage too, by reducing thrombotic complications. Normally it does no harm to the kidneys in the low doses that is commonly used (80-100mg). In higher doses though it has the same effects as the other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and may even cause acute renal failure particularly in a dehydrated patient. There are no medicines specifically designed or used for kidney dysfunction but some medicines have shown better results than others in specific settings. Since you mentioned diabetes, angiotension receptor blockers (ARB) are supposed to have better kidney-saving results in patients with diabetes type 2 and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) are supposed to have better results in patients with type 1 diabetes. I hope I've helped. If you'd like more information, please provide the details about your condition including clinical and laboratory data, that may help me give a more personalized answer. Kind Regards!