What Arthritis Medicines Are Safe For Kidneys?

What Arthritis medicines are safe for kidneys? Let’s find out. Arthritis is swelling and inflammation of joints. All the joints of the body are vulnerable and can become a victim.

But, the most affected are the knee joints. Exceptionally, it starts in old age but can also affect the juvenile stage. 

We have a related article for you, you can read Can Viral Arthritis Be Cured?

Arthritis medication elevates the risk of severe kidney problems. Plus, kidney problem complicates the treatment in arthritis patient. Still there are several medicines available that are safe for kidneys but arthritis is incurable. It can only be treated to minimize the severity.

The disease is more prevalent and severe in women when compared to men. The most prominent of more than 100 different types are Rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, Osteoarthritis, Spondyloarthropathies, Lupus erythematous, and Psoriatic arthritis. 

There are several medicines available, but arthritis is incurable. It can only be treated to minimize the severity. The most dominant causes of the disease are wearing and tearing joints with age or due to some injury. These factors result in stiffness of the inflamed joints that are extremely painful and difficult to move. 

Can Arthritis Medicines Affect Kidneys? Which Arthritis Meds Are Safe For Kidneys? 

Yes, arthritis medication elevates the risk of severe kidney problems. Plus, kidney problem complicates the treatment in arthritis patient. 

Also, people who have arthritis have more chances of developing kidney diseases. NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), e.g., ibuprofen and naproxen, are usually included in the treatment of arthritis. 

These drugs lower the blood flow to the kidneys, which diminishes their proper functioning, and also their extensive use may lead to cardiovascular diseases. 

Moreover, corticosteroids, e.g., hydrocortisone and prednisone, increase blood pressure by retaining the fluid in the kidneys. This retention of fluids increases kidney problems. 

Methotrexate is also used in arthritis treatment. In individuals with healthy kidneys, it is eliminated from the body. 

But if the kidneys are not functioning correctly, methotrexate levels in the blood increase, decreasing the number of WBCs (White blood cells), and the body is at risk of getting infections. 

Some immunosuppressant like cyclosporine decreases the glomerulus filtration in the kidney, affecting its role. Thus, patients with renal problems and arthritis must be treated with care. 

Reasons Behind The Link Between Arthritis And Kidney Disease:

Arthritis is a painful inflammation of joints. This inflammation interrupts blood vessels which affect the blood flow in the kidneys. Due to this disturbance, kidney functioning is affected. 

Also, sometimes the kidneys get inflamed, causing scarring in the glomerulus capsule of the kidney, and if the inflammation continues, it leads to renal diseases and ultimately chronic kidney problems.

Another factor that links arthritis with kidney problems is the medication. The medicines used for arthritis increase or decrease blood pressure, affecting the kidneys. 

These medicines are not toxic for people with normal kidneys, but they increase the disease that is already present. Thus, consultation with your doctor is necessary before taking any medicine.

What Arthritis Medication Is Safe For Kidneys?

Researchers have tried inventing safe medicines for arthritis patients suffering from kidney problems. Do consult your doctor about the best choice according to your condition. 

Many safe and secure options for these patients are present. We will consider the most effective ones below:

Analgesics That Are Safe For Arthritis Patients With Kidney Problems: 

Analgesics are the pain-relieving drugs given to patients who have arthritis because inflamed joints are severely painful. Some analgesics are available as OTC (over-the-counter) medicines, and a few others require a medical prescription for their dispensation. 

Analgesics like acetaminophen are recommended for these patients. Acetaminophen is metabolized by the liver alone, and the kidneys do not have to work hard for it. 

The patient taking this drug should avoid alcohol and get a checkup from their doctor at regular intervals. But, you should consult your doctor because an overdose can damage the liver.

Injections Of Arthritis Pain Having No Adverse Effect On Kidneys:

Nowadays, arthritis-affected joints are directly injected with some medicines that can comfort the severe pain. Also, some methods take fluid out of the joint by syringes. 

Corticosteroids, ACS (Autologous conditioned serum), Stem cell injections, Hyaluronic acid, and many others are effective injecting medicines for arthritis. 

But, all of them are not safe for patients with kidney problems. Among these, hyaluronic acid is the best option for people with mild osteoarthritis. It is a natural lubricant that reduces the friction between joints and brings back the lost viscosity of the joint fluid. 

Many experts accept that consecutive shots after regular intervals bring fruitful outcomes. The total number of injections is dependable on different brands. Usually, an injection per week for up to five weeks is suggested. 

FDA (Food and drug administration) has approved hyaluronic acid shots for knees, but it is also extensively used off-label for hips and shoulders.

Safe Topical Products:

Those products that apply on the body surface rather than ingestion are known as topical products. If you have mild arthritis pain, exposing yourself to oral ingestion of NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is not wise. Instead, topical NSAID can be applied to lessen the pain. 

Also, you have to check out my post on Can Arthritis Ever Be Cured? What Are The Treatment Options?

Using them will save you from the side effects of medicines, thus giving a better risk-benefit ratio. Among the different available options, diclofenac sodium (Voltaren gel) is the best one that is safe for patients having arthritis and kidney problems at once. It is harmless to kidneys because a minimal amount of medicine is absorbed in the non-toxic blood. 

Topical medicines work well for the shoulder and knee joints, but they are not very effective due to the depth of hip joints.

Furthermore, Salicylates, a pain-relieving ointment, are also a good option for these patients. However, research shows that its effectiveness in diminishing pain has mixed results, but it is safe for kidneys. It is a moderate anti-inflammatory medicine and is available as OTC (over-the-counter) ointment.

Moreover, some counterirritants are also suggested as topical products for these individuals. 

Counterirritants are products that contain substances like menthol, camphor, wintergreen, etc. They cause a mild sensation like heat or cold when applied to the skin. These sensations irritate and distract the brain from pain and inflammation. The use of these counterirritants is also totally safe for kidneys.

Although the products mentioned above are safe, you should consult your doctor before starting any medicine. Do not ever try to take it on your own.