Pain Killers

[RockingRobyn]

Hi - My question is what over the counter Pain Killer can I take with Kidney Disease? Excederine works really well for my headaches, but I was told not to take it. I Was told Tylenol was okay, but it doesn't do anthing for me. I have had a headache for a week & I am getting desperate. I am at stage 3. The headache is probably not due to Kidney Disease, but is due to an accident I had. Thank you!

[jeffmoore]

Originally Posted by RockingRobyn

Hi - My question is what over the counter Pain Killer can I take with Kidney Disease? Excederine works really well for my headaches, but I was told not to take it. I Was told Tylenol was okay, but it doesn't do anthing for me. I have had a headache for a week & I am getting desperate. I am at stage 3. The headache is probably not due to Kidney Disease, but is due to an accident I had. Thank you!

Hi RockingRobyn, First, I like to say I like your screen name, it was one of my favorite songs by the Jackson 5 in my college years. Now, you say that you are suffering from constant headaches, well, could it be that your b/p could be elevated, because that is usually the case with me, I get these excriuating headaches when my b/p is elevated, but this is just my assumption, you may have another case altogether. If Tylenol doesn't work for you, maybe you should check with your dr. he maybe able to prescribe something that won't interfere with your kidney disease. I know they say that tylenol should be used with people that have kidney disease, but there are other alternatives that may help you other than tylenol. Are you by chance taking extra strength tylenol, because there is tylenol w/codeine, but it has to be prescribed by your dr. I have taken that in the past, but it has a side effect that I don't like, you get very dizzy taking this med.

Glo

[RockingRobyn]

Jeff, thanks for your reply. I was hoping to find something over the counter. I feel like with all the other meds I take I don't want to take anything too strong. I have been taking an occasional excederine when it gets too bad.

[angieskidney]

Originally Posted by RockingRobyn

Hi - My question is what over the counter Pain Killer can I take with Kidney Disease? Excederine works really well for my headaches, but I was told not to take it. I Was told Tylenol was okay, but it doesn't do anthing for me. I have had a headache for a week & I am getting desperate. I am at stage 3. The headache is probably not due to Kidney Disease, but is due to an accident I had. Thank you!

I was told to just use Tylenol as well. I couldn't remember the reasons why not other than what is in it so I looked it up for you:

Heavy long-term use of these medicines, especially if they contain a mixture of painkilling ingredients, like aspirin-acetaminophen mixtures (Excedrin, Vanquish), may harm kidney function. If you are concerned about this, please ask your doctor.

Tylenol is an Analgesic. Analgesics are medicines that help to control pain and to reduce fever and inflammation. Examples of analgesics that are available over-the-counter are: aspirin (Anacin, Ascriptin, Bufferin, Ecotrin, Empirin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) and naproxen (Aleve). Some of these medicines are also available in mixtures such as aspirin and acetaminophen, which may also have other added ingredients like codeine or caffeine. The added ingredients are usually not harmful alone, but may contribute to risk of kidney disease when taken in analgesic combinations.

Aspirin should not exceed the dose of 51mg per day when you have kidney disease I was told when I finally got my kidney transplant in 2007 but I was not allowed to have any aspirin with my first one. Medical research has changed things so now they say baby aspirin (51 mg) is allowed.

I would discuss with your doctor which is the best choice to relieve your pain yet not hurt your remaining function of your kidneys.

Originally Posted by RockingRobyn

Hi, this is my first time posting. I have just been diagnosed with CKD, probably caused by 30 years of Lithium. I am 47, at stage 3. My creatinine is 1.6. My Bi Polar has been very well controlled. I do not want not stop taking Lithium!! I will see my Psychiatrist next week to see what he says. Any advise or a place to get more info would be appreciated. Thanks!

[RockingRobyn]

Thanks for looking that up for me!!! Maybe i will try Advil or Alleve. I am waiting for doctor to get back to me.

[TRB]

My Doctor has stated and I have read any Nsaid (ibuprofen) is harmful to the kidney's. That is for us with kidney issues. I was told to only take Tylenol as it is filtered through the liver not the kidney as with all Nsaid's.

[angieskidney]

Oh I forgot to add the link to the bottom of my last post!

There is MORE info at the LINK:

http://www.newdaynews.com/health/ind...ames/read/1113

[RockingRobyn]

Thank you this was REALLY helpful. I have been taking tylenol and adding a cup of coffee (for Caffeine) Only doing like once a day, so I don't have too much caffeine. It has been helping. Thanks again.

[NelW]

Hi Angieskidney - I was interested in this because I never really know what to take for headaches. I noticed you mentioned ibuprofen as an over the counted drug. Ibuprofen belongs to the non-steroidal anti- inflammatory group of drugs (NSAIDS) so I'm guessing it's best not to take this if possible. Paracetamol is probably safest. I did hear that mixtures of active ingredients are BAD for us - as you say too. I have read conflicting stuff about asprin but I take it because I'm scared to take ibuprofen now. Nel

[angieskidney]

Originally Posted by NelW

Hi Angieskidney - I was interested in this because I never really know what to take for headaches. I noticed you mentioned ibuprofen as an over the counted drug. Ibuprofen belongs to the non-steroidal anti- inflammatory group of drugs (NSAIDS) so I'm guessing it's best not to take this if possible. Paracetamol is probably safest. I did hear that mixtures of active ingredients are BAD for us - as you say too. I have read conflicting stuff about asprin but I take it because I'm scared to take ibuprofen now. Nel

Yeah I was told as well never to take ibuprofen. And Aspirin in limited doses as prescribed by the doctor or discussed and agreed upon. Latest studies (in the last 10 years .. not sure what year) show that some is good but does conflict with a lot of meds today (not really talked about what kind) so it is important to talk to your doctor when taking these.

[TRB]

I just found out today that decongestants are not good for us. I was taking a Tylenol allergy med. Come to find out it had a decongestant in it. Doc put me on Claritin instead.

[angieskidney]

Originally Posted by TRB

I just found out today that decongestants are not good for us. I was taking a Tylenol allergy med. Come to find out it had a decongestant in it. Doc put me on Claritin instead.

Oh I didn't know that Claritin would be the wise choice! Thank you for that! I actually have taken Tylenol Flu and Cold before but guess that would not be good neither?

[TRB]

NEP suggested I speak with PCP on my allergies as he did not address it much. PCP stated antihistamine is OK but decongestant not recommended. So I was prescribed Claritin and Nasonex. I think the main issue with the decongestants are they raise blood pressure.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdo...cines/859.html

[angieskidney]

Originally Posted by TRB

NEP suggested I speak with PCP on my allergies as he did not address it much. PCP stated antihistamine is OK but decongestant not recommended. So I was prescribed Claritin and Nasonex. I think the main issue with the decongestants are they raise blood pressure.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdo...cines/859.html

Ah okay then it is something that might be different person to person?

[NelW]

Originally Posted by angieskidney

Yeah I was told as well never to take ibuprofen. And Aspirin in limited doses as prescribed by the doctor or discussed and agreed upon. Latest studies (in the last 10 years .. not sure what year) show that some is good but does conflict with a lot of meds today (not really talked about what kind) so it is important to talk to your doctor when taking these.

Hi - thanks for the info. about asprin. Wasn't sure about that one. Nel