2026/09/13 11:12
Pharmacist Wu Chuyu reminds people that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) have a higher risk for people with impaired kidney function, so they should not take painkillers of unknown origin at will; the picture is a situational photo. (Picture taken from freepik)
[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report] "If blood pressure is under control, can I stop taking antihypertensive drugs?" Many patients with chronic kidney disease are worried that long-term medication will damage their kidneys, and even reduce or stop taking medication on their own. Wu Chuyu, a pharmacist at Yuanlin Christian Hospital, pointed out that stopping the drug at will may continue to expose the kidneys to high blood pressure, high blood sugar and other injuries, accelerating the deterioration of kidney function. He reminded kidney patients to master three major principles to protect their kidneys: stably control the four highs, not take painkillers from unknown sources, and take medicine correctly.
Wu Chuyu explained that in the drug consultation room, patients often ask: "The blood pressure is well controlled, can the blood pressure-lowering drugs be stopped?" Some people also wonder why doctors still prescribe blood sugar drugs if they do not have diabetes. Many people hold the idea of "taking less medicine if they can", but they may stop or reduce the medicine on their own, which may cause the kidneys to continue to be damaged by high blood pressure and high blood sugar, accelerating the deterioration of kidney function.
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Stabilize the four highs and delay the deterioration of kidney function
Wu Chuyu said that chronic kidney disease care should pay attention to the "four highs", including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high uric acid and high blood lipids. In addition to controlling blood pressure, ACEI/ARB antihypertensive drugs can also reduce proteinuria and reduce intraglomerular pressure; SGLT2 inhibitors can reduce the risk of renal function deterioration and heart failure hospitalization, and even patients without diabetes may benefit.
Don’t take painkillers for kidney damage on your own
Wu Chuyu reminded kidney friends that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDs) have a higher risk for people with impaired kidney function and may induce acute renal failure. These drugs are often used for sore throats, joint inflammation, or toothaches, and their potential harm is often overlooked. In particular, kidney patients should not take unidentified painkillers at will, and should proactively inform their kidney status when purchasing medicines at pharmacies. Pharmacists can master complete medication records through the cloud medication record, which can also help early detection of potentially kidney-damaging drugs.
End-stage renal disease requires correct medication. Wu Chuyu mentioned that when kidney function enters the fourth or fifth stage, patients are often accompanied by multiple complications such as high blood phosphate, and the details of medication are more important. Taking phosphorus binders as an example, they must be taken with meals to effectively bind phosphorus in food and reduce blood phosphorus concentration. Some special dosage forms (such as powders for oral suspension) are not swallowed directly, but need to be added with an appropriate amount of water and stirred thoroughly before taking. They must be avoided at the same time with other medicines and should be separated by a period of time to avoid affecting the efficacy of the medicine.
