By: Joe Graedon October 14, 2024 8 Comments
    Some Diabetes Drugs Can Trigger Perineal Gangren…

    Do you know what the perineum is? A lot of people do not know what doctors or drug companies mean when they say the “skin of the perineum.” When a television commercial for a type 2 diabetes drug …

    By: Terry Graedon August 29, 2024 6 Comments
    Will a Diet of Mostly Plants Help Your Kidneys?

    Chronic kidney disease has been increasing in the United States and now affects 14 percent of all adults, and it is even more common among older people. This might be explained by the widespread use o…

    By: Terry Graedon July 14, 2024 16 Comments
    Can NSAIDs for Pain Harm Your Kidneys?

    Have you taken nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac, ibuprofen or naproxen? These pain relievers are very popular. In fact, you can buy ibuprofen and naproxen without a prescr…

    By: Joe Graedon June 16, 2024 27 Comments
    What Do You Really Know About Scary Ibuprofen Si…

    Do you read the labels on OTC pain relievers? Be honest now. The last time you purchased Advil, Motrin IB or some house brand ibuprofen pills, did you check out the dosage instructions or the warnings…

    By: Terry Graedon May 2, 2024 12 Comments
    Show 1384: Mending Mistrust–Can We Rebuild Fai…

    . Decades ago, people trusted their doctors and assumed that physicians always had the patient’s best interests in mind. That belief has faded and trust in medicine seems to be in tatters following …

    By: Joe Graedon April 22, 2024 24 Comments
    Can You Wreck Your Kidneys With NSAID Pain Relie…

    Most people take their kidneys for granted...until something bad happens. When your kidneys fail, though, your life hangs in the balance. Short of dialysis or a kidney transplant, kidney failure rapid…

    By: Joe Graedon April 8, 2024 19 Comments
    Is Celecoxib Safe To Prevent Nighttime Urination…

    There is nothing more annoying than waking up in the middle of the night with a strong urge to pee. Well, actually there is. Waking up to discover that you have had an accident in bed is uncomfortable…

    By: Terry Graedon January 21, 2024 33 Comments
    What Are the Advantages of Voltaren Gel?

    Inflammation is behind a lot of chronic disease, including arthritis. That is why nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen are so popular among people with joint pain.…

    By: Joe Graedon November 12, 2023 27 Comments
    Sneaky Delayed Drug Side Effects Fool MDs and Pa…

    If your doctor recommends a new drug to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism or elevated LDL cholesterol, you should be informed about the most common or worrisome side effects. Actuall…

    By: Joe Graedon October 16, 2023 11 Comments
    Doctors Deny That PPIs Can Cause Kidney Damage

    It can take years or even decades to discover serious drug side effects. Think of it as a long-running drug experiment. Proton pump inhibitors like esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and o…

    By: Joe Graedon October 5, 2023 14 Comments
    PPIs and Kidney Damage | Nephrologist Spanks GI …

    Many specialists live in silos. By that we mean they hang out with other experts just like themselves. They reinforce each other’s understanding of the world. These specialists may not spend a lot o…

    By: Joe Graedon July 17, 2023 22 Comments
    Curcumin or NSAIDS for Knee Arthritis and Heart …

    When medical students learn about the best way to treat osteoarthritis pain and inflammation, they inevitably hear that NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are the go-to medications. That’…

    By: Joe Graedon May 8, 2023 17 Comments
    Fluoride Exposure and Thyroid, Kidney and Liver …

    According to the CDC, nearly 3/4 of the American population on "community water systems" have fluoride exposure from their water. That's more than 200 million people. Growing up ,I remember hearing ra…

    By: Terry Graedon September 19, 2022 5 Comments
    Farxiga and Chronic Kidney Disease: FDA Confusio…

    On June 14, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration strengthened its warning on certain medications prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes. Canagliflozin and dapagliflozin are sold under the brand…

    By: Joe Graedon May 5, 2022 5 Comments
    Beware Kidney Injury From the Triple Whammy!

    Tens of millions of Americans are at risk for kidney injury. That's because they are taking a combination of drugs that researchers refer to as the "triple whammy" (Mathematical Biosciences, May, 2022…

    By: Joe Graedon October 4, 2021 18 Comments
    Do You Really Have High Blood Pressure?

    Have you been told you have high blood pressure? Doctors recognize that untreated hypertension can increase your chance of developing heart disease, kidney damage or stroke. Consequently, you should t…

    By: Joe Graedon June 17, 2019 6 Comments
    Generic Furosemide Disappoints | How to Afford L…

    Ask any doctor about the importance of furosemide (Lasix) and you are likely to get an earful. The FDA approved this diuretic in 1966. It is considered an essential medicine by the World Health Organi…

    By: Terry Graedon January 3, 2019 5 Comments
    For Healthy Kidneys, Avoid Sugary Drinks

    Usually, people are advised to drink plenty of liquids to keep their kidneys healthy and functioning well. A new study suggests, however, that sugary drinks are more of a problem than a help. What Is …

    By: Joe Graedon September 5, 2018 159 Comments
    The Dangers of Diclofenac and Other NSAID Pain R…

    Doctors love NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). That’s largely because they don’t have a lot of other tools in the toolkit when it comes to treating pain and inflammation. Opioids have…

    By: Terry Graedon March 29, 2018 1 Comments
    Will Prediabetes Put Your Heart and Kidneys at R…

    The high blood sugar of diabetes is associated with damage to the heart and kidneys. Just how much does slightly elevated blood sugar, termed prediabetes, affect health? Doctors define prediabetes as …

    By: Terry Graedon August 17, 2017 2 Comments
    Marathon Runners Should Watch Out for NSAIDs

    Marathon runners might be tempted to take ibuprofen or a similar NSAID before they start a long race. But evidence is accumulating that such anti-inflammatory pain relievers may increase the risk of k…

    By: Terry Graedon June 8, 2016 2 Comments
    How to Quench Your Thirst Without Harming Your K…

    Exercising on a hot summer day can make you thirsty. Sweating due to heat or physical activity constitutes water loss that can lead to dehydration. You'll need a drink to overcome that, but a new s…

    By: Joe Graedon April 9, 2015 10 Comments
    Iced Tea Overdose Can Damage the Kidneys

    A case report published in The New England Journal of Medicine has answered the question, is it possible to drink too much iced tea? The cautionary case was that of a 56 year old man who developed fat…

    By: Joe Graedon October 30, 2014 1 Comments
    Mediterranean Diet Is Good for Kidneys

    A Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fruit, legumes, olive oil and fish seems to keep kidneys healthy. A community-based study examined the diets of 900 volunteers who were followed for almost 7 y…

    By: Terry Graedon November 7, 2013 3 Comments
    Acetaminophen in Combination with Alcohol Can Ha…

    Acetaminophen is still perceived as a very safe pain reliever even though there are warnings about liver and kidney damage. Scientists have known for some time that acetaminophen in combination with a…

    By: Terry Graedon August 15, 2013 1 Comments
    Healthy Diet Holds Off Kidney Trouble

    People with diabetes are at greater risk of chronic kidney disease. A new study shows, however, that a healthful diet can cut that risk significantly. The 6,213 participants in the six-year-long trial…

    By: Joe Graedon May 27, 2013 18 Comments
    Naproxen May Damage Kidneys

    One of the most popular NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in the pharmacy is naproxen. It was originally only available by prescription under the name Naprosyn. Now doctors can write presc…

    By: Joe Graedon January 17, 2013 2 Comments
    Does BPA Affect Kidney Function?

    Bisphenol or BPA for short, is widely used in the lining of cans, cash register receipts and is a component of hard clear plastics. A new study shows that this endocrine disruptor may have negative ef…

    By: Terry Graedon September 15, 2011 3 Comments
    NSAIDs Don’t Mix with Kidney Disease

    Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been linked to kidney disease. People with kidney damage are often advised to avoid drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and celecoxib. A new survey …

    By: Terry Graedon April 21, 2011 7 Comments
    Low-Carb Diet Stops Kidney Failure in Mice

    One of the serious complications of diabetes is kidney failure. Once it has begun to develop, this complication can be difficult to stop. New mouse research suggests a simple dietary intervention may …

    By: Joe Graedon March 19, 2008 5 Comments
    NSAIDs Can Cause Kidney Damage

    Q. I read in your column that naproxen can cause kidney damage. I want to reinforce that warning. I lost my kidneys as a result of taking prescription strength naproxen in 1995. I took this anti-infla…

    By: Joe Graedon December 24, 2007 13 Comments
    Pain Reliever Caused Kidney Damage

    Q. Over-the-counter ibuprofen was my friend. I thought it was a miracle drug for pain and inflammation. I have osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and I took ibuprofen often to relieve pain. Then I went …