Can Taking Ibuprofen Two Days In A Row Put Kidneys At A Risk?

Posted on Tue, 2 Jan 2024

Question: I take 1800-3600 mg of ibuprofen a week 3x a week. It is usually only the 1800 mg a week over 3 days and never more than 1200 mg in a day. I take a 600 mg dose at a time (3 otc tablets). I just started doing this. I never take it two days in a row. I am very healthy with no other health problems. I am 5"8 190 lbs. I get blood work done every 6 months. Is this practice putting my kidneys at risk? I have no gastrointestinal side effects with this dose.

Answered by Dr. Ravi Bansal (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:

Yes

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Ibuprofen belongs to a class of NSAID pain killers. They are prostaglandin inhibitors and decrease blood circulation at the microscopic level in the kidney.

They also interfere with the water and salt balance function of the kidney. apart from direct damage to the kidneys they can also cause allergic phenomenon, called interstitial nephritis and thus damage the kidneys.

These medicines should only be used under the guidance of medical practitioner if being taken for the long term. Occasional use of 1 or 2 tablets in a healthy adult is generally safe

your comment that you don't take daily, you are healthy and you keep a check every 6 months- would not protect you from the side effects of this medicine.

Not all patients taking long term pain killers develop side effects but significant number do.

So best is to avoid regular use of such medicine unless medically indicated and prescribed by your doctor for any specific ailment.

Here also you should discuss with your doctor of other possible alternatives.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Ravi Bansal, Nephrologist

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana