HEALTH experts have urged people to stop taking certain medication while they are sick to save their kidneys.

GPs from Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Group are raising awareness about the side effects certain medication combatting health issues can have on the kidneys if taken while ill.

But what can the side effects cause? Which medication should people avoid? What do the experts say?

WHAT ARE KIDNEYS?

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in the lower back. They remove toxins from blood by turning them into urine. 
Doctors say it is important to keep them healthy even if they stop working properly because people may require a transplant or need kidney dialysis.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Experts are encouraging people to be aware of the ‘sick day rules’. Medication used to tackle diabetes or high blood pressure could injure the kidneys if taken while suffering from vomiting, fever or diarrhoea.

WHAT MEDICATION COULD DO THIS?

Anti-inflammatory tablets that are not steroid based, such as Nurofen, blood pressure-lowering drugs known as ACE inhibitors or ARBs, diuretics or what are more commonly known as water tablets, diabetes drugs like Metformin and Sulfonylurea and Trimethoprim, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

WHAT ACTION IS BEING TAKEN TO ALERT PEOPLE?

Pharmacists will put stickers on affected medicines and GPs will talk to their patients and hand out information cards.
Experts say that only the medication listed above should be stopped on sick days and that people should start taking them again when the symptoms have gone.

EXPERT OPINION

Dr Maurice Sanomi, GP and clinical lead for Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Groups says: “Many people are prescribed medication to help them manage long term health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, but some medicines can react badly if you become ill with vomiting, diarrhoea or a fever.

“In some cases, continuing to take your medication when you have any of these symptoms can cause your kidneys to suddenly stop working properly, a condition known as acute kidney injury. The effects of this range from pain and discomfort to long term damage – known as chronic kidney disease.

“If you are taking one of the affected medicines and you experience vomiting, diarrhoea or a fever, you should stop taking it straight away, and just start it again as normal when you feel better.”