What Antibiotics Are Safe To Take With Kidney Disease

What Is A Kidney Infection

Kidney infection, or pyelonephritis, is a bacterial infection of the kidneys that constitutes a medically urgent condition requiring immediate antibiotic treatment. Untreated kidney infection runs the risk of an abscess, kidney damage, loss of kidney function, blood poisoning , and, in a worst-case scenario, kidney failure.

Kidney infections are a commonly experienced type of kidney disease, accounting for over 250,000 cases per year. They are typically caused by an active urinary tract infection that begins in the bladder, called cystitis. Because women are at a higher risk for cystitis, they are also at a higher risk for kidney infection. Approximately 15-17 out of every 10,000 women are diagnosed with kidney infection annually compared to 3-4 out of every 10,000 men. Other risk factors include urinary system blockage, a compromised immune system, urinary catheters, or vesicoureteral reflux, a condition in which urine flows up from the bladder back into the kidneys.

Most kidney infections are the result of urinary tract infections caused by a bacteria called Escherichia coli, or E. coli, which normally lives in the colon. Bacteria that finds its way into the bladder and goes untreated can travel up the ureters, the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder, and spread to the kidneys and their collecting systems.

Medications That Can Harm The Kidneys

No matter what kind of medicine you take, whether OTC or prescription, it is destined to take a trip through your kidneys. Taking a drug the wrong way or in excessive amounts can damage these vital, bean-shaped organs and lead to serious complications. In the worst-case scenario, it could necessitate a kidney transplant.

Compared with 30 years ago, patients todayhave a higher incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, take multiple medications, and are exposed to more diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with the potential to harm kidney function, according to Cynthia A. Naughton, PharmD, senior associate dean and associate professor in the department of pharmacy practice at North Dakota State University. All of these factors are associated with an elevated risk of kidney damage.

An estimated 20% of cases of acute kidney failure are due to medications. The technical term for this scenario is nephrotoxicity, which is growing more common as the aging population grows, along with rates of various diseases.

The kidneys get rid of waste and extra fluid in the body by filtering the blood to produce urine. They also keep electrolyte levels balanced and make hormones that influence blood pressure, bone strength and the production of red blood cells. When something interferes with the kidneys, they cant do their job, so these functions can slow down or stop altogether.

Can Diabetes Cause Kidney Failure In Dogs

However, the failing kidney is unable to use a small amount of water for the toxins , and because of this failure in water conservation, more water is needed to flush the toxins from the body. Consequently, the most common symptoms of CRF are polydipsia and polyuria . These are also the two most common signs of diabetes.

Although enalapril is used to treat some forms of chronic kidney failure, there are instances in both dogs and cats where enalapril therapy has worsened the underlying kidney problems. Enalapril is eliminated from the body by the kidneys. Animals with decreased kidney function will need additional monitoring.

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Why Take This Online Course:

Taking care of your Kidneys is a course that empowers you with validated information about your kidneys.

Kidneys are a pair of miracle organs that filter out the waste and toxic material from our body in the form of urine.

It is estimated that about 10% of the worlds population is affected by chronic kidney disease , and the majority are discovered when it is too late to reverse the damage.

This course will help you not only make healthy choices but also train you on how to recognise the early symptoms and signs of kidney disease.

This course is a must for anyone who has a relative with kidney disease or if they are prone to chronic kidney disease.

So What Can You Do To Reduce The Risk Of Antibiotic Induced Nephrotoxicity

Only take antibiotics when it is truly necessary

One of the major reasons for the overuse of antibiotics include pressure from patients and the willingness of health care providers to prescribe antibiotics for common ailments that would clear up on their own. Although antibiotics are not effective against colds, flu and other viral infections, they continue to be given to patients who need to take a prescription medication for these conditions.

Support immune system function

Supporting the function of your immune system is one way to try and avoid needing antibiotics in the first place.

Nutrients to boost immune function: vitamin C, zinc, selenium, vitamin D, vitamin A, selenium and vitamin E.

Herbs to boost immune system function: Echinacea, Astragalus, medicinal mushrooms eg. Cordyceps, Reishi and Shiitake.

Foods to boost immune system function: garlic, ginger, cinnamon, onion, mushrooms, berries, turmeric, colourful fruit and vegetables.

Lifestyle tips to boost immune system function: exercise regularly, actively manage stress, meditate, get enough sleep, avoid sugars, alcohol and refined carbohydrates.

Certain herbs and nutrients

In every case of impaired kidney function, either acute or chronic, oxidative stress plays a key role in kidney damage. Reports have shown that reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species are elevated in antibiotic nephrotoxicity and are responsible for a large amount of the damage caused by antibiotics.

Curcumin

Schisandra

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How Do I Detox My Kidneys

There is no scientific evidence that kidney cleansing has any effect on kidney health. The best way to detoxify the kidneys is to not toxify them in the first place. Drink plenty of fluids, eat a nutritious diet, avoid processed foods, reduce salt intake, quit smoking, and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and unnecessary medications.

Related Resources For Kidney Infection

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This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.

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Strengths And Limitations Of This Study

• The study is a randomised controlled trial with a high sample size and high rate of follow-up and it is the first to systematically investigate the renal toxicity of several of the analysed antibiotics. Existing end points for acute renal failure could not capture renal failure that emerged from baseline and forth, so other end points had to be designed. The study was not designed to detect persistent renal failure and more severe degrees of renal failure.

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Antibiotics Used To Fight Kidney Infection

Many individuals need to know what prescription antibiotics are used for kidney infection? There are many kinds of over-the-counter medicine for kidney infection that treat the illness in various methods depending on the severity of the case, the bacteria involved, and the patients history, consisting of medication allergies. Dont rely on natural home remedy alone to look after kidney infections as bacteria growth can result in even worse conditions. More information on the main kinds of antibiotics administered are noted below.

Amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin group of drugs and is a widely utilized antibiotic to deal with infections triggered by bacteria. Using amoxicillin for kidney infection will avoid bacteria from growing in addition to kills them off. It is typically taken two times a day. Amoxicillin is also a typical drug used to deal with bronchitis, pneumonia, and to avoid chlamydia throughout pregnancy. It is safe for pregnant women and can avoid bacterial infection in babies. It can be taken orally, as a dry tablet, chewable tablet, capsule, or liquid preparation.

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How To Prevent Kidney Infection

You cant completely prevent future kidney infections. You will be at a higher risk if you have kidney stones, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.

The female urinary system is also more prone to developing kidney infections because the womans urethra is shorter.

You can, however, do the following things to reduce the chance of developing a kidney infection:

• Dont use deodorant sprays or douches on your genitals.
• Avoid spermicide, which can trigger bacteria growth.
• Use lubricated condoms.

Kidney Failure From Bleeding

Significant bleeding within a small period of time almost always results in some degree of kidney failure. Examples of significant bleeding that can cause reversible kidney failure are: excessive bleeding during surgery, bleeding from trauma, internal bleeding inside the stomach or intestines, an unstoppable nose bleed, heavy bleeding after childbirth, etc. The degree of kidney failure is proportional to the amount of blood loss. These types of bleeding almost always make you end up in the hospital. The good news is that most kidney failures from bleeding can be reversed with treatment. All we need to do to reverse the kidney failure in this situation is stop the bleeding and transfuse blood as required. Once the blood volume is properly restored, kidneys start to function normally.

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Are There Vitamins I Should Not Take

Tell your doctor about all of the vitamins you are taking. If you have CKD, you should not take vitamins A, D, E and K unless your doctor prescribes them. These vitamins can build up in your system if your kidneys are not working well to filter extra vitamins out.

If you start dialysis, your vitamin needs may change. Talk to your doctor about any changes you should make if your treatment plan changes.

Take Green Tea Extract Or Drink Green Tea

A 2013 study in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology suggests that taking green tea extract may have an antibacterial effect on common bacteria strains known to cause UTIs.

The researchers took green tea extracts and applied them to bacterial cultures in a laboratory. Over time, they found the green tea inhibited bacterial growth.

Because the study was in a laboratory and involved samples, it is hard to know if the results would be the same in humans. However, the possibility remains that green tea could have potential health benefits when a person has a UTI.

Green tea extract is available to purchase in stores and online.

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Can You Take Antibiotics With Kidney Disease

Antibiotics with Kidney Diseaseyouantibioticskidneyantibioticstakeyoukidney disease

• Pen VK: No dose alteration needed.
• 2)Amoxicillin: No dose adjustment.
• 6)Tetracycline HCL: Avoid Tetracycline HCL with Liver Disease.
• 7)Doxycycline: No dose change needed with kidney/live/kidney & liver disease.

Furthermore, what medications should not be taken with kidney disease? Medicines to AvoidYour doctor may tell you to avoid certain pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and celecoxib . These drugs, which doctors call NSAIDs , could play a role in kidney disease.

Then, do antibiotics affect kidneys?

Antibiotics. Various classes of antibiotics can harm the kidneys in different ways. Aminoglycosides such as tobramycin can cause toxicity in renal tubular cells, which are more sensitive to the toxic effects of drugs because their role in kidney filtration exposes them to high levels of toxins.

Can you take amoxicillin with kidney disease?

Amoxicillin is safe for patients with chronic kidney disease . The dose that you cite should be acceptable for Stage 3 CKD.

Things You Can Try Yourself

If you have a kidney infection, try not to “hover” over the toilet seat when you go to the loo because it can result in your bladder not being fully emptied.

It’s also important for most people with a kidney infection to drink plenty of fluids because this will help to flush out the bacteria from your kidneys. Aim to drink enough so that you’re frequently passing pale-coloured urine.

If you have kidney failure, get advice from your doctor on how much to drink.

Make sure you get plenty of rest. A kidney infection can be physically draining, even if you’re normally healthy and strong. It may take up to 2 weeks before you’re fit enough to return to work.

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Drugs You May Need To Avoid Or Adjust If You Have Kidney Disease

Medications save and improve lives, but it can be easy to overlook their risks and side effects, especially if you don’t think they apply to you. Twenty-six million Americans have chronic kidney disease and most don’t know it.

If you don’t know how well your kidneys are working, you may not realize that certain medications could be damaging your kidneys and other parts of your body. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications are filtered by the kidneys. This means that your kidneys degrade and remove medications from the body.

When your kidneys aren’t working properly, medications can build up and cause you harm. It’s important to get your kidneys checked and to work with your doctor to make any adjustments to your medication regimen, such as dosing changes or substitutions. This will help prevent any negative effects from the medication, including further kidney damage.

You can determine your level of kidney function with a blood test for serum creatinine to calculate an eGFR measurement. An eGFR estimates how well your kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood.

Here are 5 common types of prescription and over-the-counter medications may need to be adjusted or replaced if you have kidney damage.

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Estimating Gfr And Creatinine Clearance

Dosages of drugs cleared renally are based on renal function . These calculations are valid only when renal function is stable and the serum creatinine level is constant.

The K/DOQI clinical practice guideline advocates using the traditional Cockcroft-Gault equation or the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study equation for routine estimation of GFR.1 However, in patients with a GFR lower than 60 mL per minute per 1.73 m2, the MDRD equation has been shown to be superior to the Cockcroft-Gault equation.2

Because the production and excretion of creatinine declines with age, normal serum creatinine values may not represent normal renal function in older patients. The MDRD equation has been shown to be the best method for detecting a GFR lower than 90 mL per minute per 1.73 m2 in older patients.3

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Medications To Prevent Swelling

People who have kidney disease may experience swelling in their extremities because of fluid retention. This excess fluid can lead to painful swelling around your ankles and wrists, which can impede movement. The excess fluid can also throw off your electrolyte balance and can lead to issues with blood pressure. Diuretics can help you maintain a proper fluid balance in your body. Your doctor will recommend one and can monitor you to see how long you should be taking it.

As with any medical condition, you should talk to your doctor about the medications you take each day. Follow medical advice to avoid doing further kidney damage and to have the best medical outcomes. By adhering to advice, you can alleviate symptoms of kidney disorders while avoiding further damage.

Have you talked to your doctor lately about medications you take and the foods you eat? for an appointment.

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More Information On Medicines

We have a number of leaflets about the various medicines you may be prescribed depending on your condition:-

Note: these tablets can usually be stopped 6 months after a transplant.

Antibiotics used to treat haemodialysis line infections

• Gentamicin

Note: usually given as a single dose injection, then blood levels need to be measured.

Antibiotics to treat peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients

• Gentamicin
• Vancomycin
• Ciprofloxacin

Note: usually given as a course, either intravenously or in the dialysis fluid then blood levels need to be measured.

Drugs that lower blood pressure

• Calcium antagonists
• Beta-blockers
• ACE-inhibitors or ‘Prils’
• ARBs or ‘Sartams’

Note: all blood pressure tablets, if given in too high dosage, can cause low blood pressure and dizziness. ACE-inhibitors and ARBs can increase the potassium levels in the blood and cause or worsen kidney failure.

Water tablets

• Furosemide
• Metolazone

Note if given in too high dosage, these tablets can cause dehydration, low blood pressure and dizziness.

Spinolactone can cause the potassium levels in the blood to rise.

Drugs that control renal bone disease

Phosphate binders

Note: these tablets can also cause the calcium level in the blood to rise.

Cinacalcet

• This drug has the advantage of not raising calcium levels.

Drugs that increase your blood count

• Ferrous sulphate tablets
• Iron injection
• ESA injections

Drugs that control vasculitis

• Stronger: azathioprine
• Very strong: cyclophophamide

Drugs that thin your blood

• Aspirin

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The Effect Of Painkillers

Some opioid painkillers, such as Vicodin and Percocet, contain acetaminophen, commonly marketed as Tylenol.

Long-term use of acetaminophen-containing prescription painkillers or acetaminophen alone can cause two types of kidney damage 20:

• Analgesic nephropathy: a condition that progresses to irreversible renal failure 21.
• Chronic kidney failure.

In the case of analgesic nephropathy, a person will likely require a kidney transplant or dialysis to return to normal renal functioning 21.

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