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Does Amlodipine Raise Creatinine Levels Or Have Potential To Damage The Kidneys?
Question: I am confused about some things that I have read about the relationship between Lisinopril and kidney function. I have read both that lisinopril can raise serum creatinine levels and that it can protect the kidneys from damage from high blood pressure.
In your experience, how much does lisinopril raise the creatinine levels? Is this rise temporary? For example if the patient stops taking the lisinopril will the levels go back to normal, or is the lisinopril actually damaging the kidneys permanently?
Also does amlodipine raise creatinine levels too? Does it have potential to damage the kidneys?
I had one creatinine level that was a little high (1.11), but that was when I was very ill with vomiting and diarrhea. A month later my creatinine was .97 which is normal. At the time I took that test I was on 10 mg of lisinopril, but a month ago I raised it to 20 mg. Yesterday I started taking amlodipine.
I just want to understand how the drugs could affect my kidneys and my creatinine levels. I'm not panicked about it, but I do get worried about the thought of kidney damage.
In your experience, how much does lisinopril raise the creatinine levels? Is this rise temporary? For example if the patient stops taking the lisinopril will the levels go back to normal, or is the lisinopril actually damaging the kidneys permanently?
Also does amlodipine raise creatinine levels too? Does it have potential to damage the kidneys?
I had one creatinine level that was a little high (1.11), but that was when I was very ill with vomiting and diarrhea. A month later my creatinine was .97 which is normal. At the time I took that test I was on 10 mg of lisinopril, but a month ago I raised it to 20 mg. Yesterday I started taking amlodipine.
I just want to understand how the drugs could affect my kidneys and my creatinine levels. I'm not panicked about it, but I do get worried about the thought of kidney damage.
Brief Answer:
the risk for kidney damage is low
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
lisinopril and other angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) may raise creatinine levels a bit (reversibly) because of their pharmacologic effects on renal vasculature (constriction of the efferent arteriole). When this increase is not exaggerated (more than 30% of baseline creatinine value) it can be tolerated and does not raise any serious concerns. Otherwise various disorders can be suspected like renal artery stenosis, serious heart failure or hypovolemia. When a patient stops taking the ACEi, creatinine levels will get back to the pre-treatment levels. ACEi are particularly beneficial for patients with proteinuria.
Amlodipine and other calcium channel blockers (CCB) do not normally raise the creatinine. We do not expect harm to the kidneys and they're actually used by patients with renal disease very often (prescribed by their doctors that is).
When having a gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea are usually caused by this disorder) the body loses water. This loss results in hypovolemia (low blood volume) which in turn causes a rise in creatinine levels due to reduced blood filtration by the kidneys.
This combination (ACEi and CCB) is very common and no kidney damage is expected for most patients. In case you're very concerned about it, you'd better talk with the treating physician who knows your medical history much better than I do... Until then I would recommend following your doctor's advice and take the medications as prescribed.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
the risk for kidney damage is low
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
lisinopril and other angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) may raise creatinine levels a bit (reversibly) because of their pharmacologic effects on renal vasculature (constriction of the efferent arteriole). When this increase is not exaggerated (more than 30% of baseline creatinine value) it can be tolerated and does not raise any serious concerns. Otherwise various disorders can be suspected like renal artery stenosis, serious heart failure or hypovolemia. When a patient stops taking the ACEi, creatinine levels will get back to the pre-treatment levels. ACEi are particularly beneficial for patients with proteinuria.
Amlodipine and other calcium channel blockers (CCB) do not normally raise the creatinine. We do not expect harm to the kidneys and they're actually used by patients with renal disease very often (prescribed by their doctors that is).
When having a gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea are usually caused by this disorder) the body loses water. This loss results in hypovolemia (low blood volume) which in turn causes a rise in creatinine levels due to reduced blood filtration by the kidneys.
This combination (ACEi and CCB) is very common and no kidney damage is expected for most patients. In case you're very concerned about it, you'd better talk with the treating physician who knows your medical history much better than I do... Until then I would recommend following your doctor's advice and take the medications as prescribed.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you that was an extremely helpful answer. I am not very concerned about my kidney function. What I am actually concerned about is being incorrectly diagnosed as having chronic kidney disease. When I was very sick and my creatinine level increased (just to 1.11), the doctor that evaluated my labs said that I had chronic kidney disease. This was almost certainly incorrect because my levels went back to normal when I wasn't sick. But now I am on a larger dosage of lisinopril and I'm nervous about it happening again.
A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease would make it difficult for me to get life insurance or nursing home insurance, so I don't want it on my record if it is incorrect. But if I do have it, I'd want to know.
So my follow-up question is will lisinopril affect a 24-hour creatinine clearance test? I've never had one, but I would push for one if they try to diagnose me with chronic kidney disease again.
A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease would make it difficult for me to get life insurance or nursing home insurance, so I don't want it on my record if it is incorrect. But if I do have it, I'd want to know.
So my follow-up question is will lisinopril affect a 24-hour creatinine clearance test? I've never had one, but I would push for one if they try to diagnose me with chronic kidney disease again.
Brief Answer:
it may affect it but not significantly
Detailed Answer:
As described in my first answer, lisinopril affects the filtration rate, therefore it will affect the creatinine clearance test but this is not supposed to be significant.
Since you were having diarrhea and vomiting back then, it's very likely that you were dehydrated. We can't diagnose chronic kidney disease until dehydration is corrected. The 24h test may help. The absolute values of creatinine are not good indicators of renal damage on their own. A man with big muscles may have higher creatinine and still be normal while a thin woman may have a relatively low creatinine and have kidney disease.
Best regards!
it may affect it but not significantly
Detailed Answer:
As described in my first answer, lisinopril affects the filtration rate, therefore it will affect the creatinine clearance test but this is not supposed to be significant.
Since you were having diarrhea and vomiting back then, it's very likely that you were dehydrated. We can't diagnose chronic kidney disease until dehydration is corrected. The 24h test may help. The absolute values of creatinine are not good indicators of renal damage on their own. A man with big muscles may have higher creatinine and still be normal while a thin woman may have a relatively low creatinine and have kidney disease.
Best regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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