Korean J Fam Med.  2016 Nov;37(6):310-316. 10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.6.310.

Common Analgesic Agents and Their Roles in Analgesic Nephropathy: A Commentary on the Evidence

• Yaxley J

• KMID: 2358747
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.6.310

Abstract

An association between non-opioid analgesic agents and chronic kidney disease has long been suspected. The presumed development of chronic renal impairment following protracted and excessive use of non-opioid analgesia is known as analgesic nephropathy. Many clinicians accept analgesic nephropathy as a real entity despite the paucity of scientific evidence. This narrative review aims to summarize the literature in the field. The weight of available observational literature suggests that long-term ingestion of paracetamol and combination mixtures of aspirin and paracetamol are likely to contribute to chronic renal impairment. However, there is no convincing data to implicate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin monotherapy in the development of analgesic nephropathy. In the absence of high-level evidence, while controversy persists, it may be prudent for physicians to consider all non-narcotic analgesics to be nephrotoxic with long-term use.

Keyword

Nephropathy; Analgesics; Renal Insufficiency

MeSH Terms

Acetaminophen
Analgesia
Analgesics*
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
Aspirin
Eating
Renal Insufficiency
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Acetaminophen
Analgesics
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
Aspirin