University of Waterloo researchers suggest combining ibuprofen with a diuretic and an RSA inhibitor for high blood pressure could place people at risk for kidney disease.
There are new warnings being raised about combining ibuprofen with certain types of blood pressure medications. The combination may lead to permanent kidney damage.
A new report from The University of Waterloo suggests that combining ibuprofen with a diuretic and a renin-angiotensin system (RSA) inhibitor for high blood pressure could place people at risk for kidney disease. Diuretics and RSA inhibitors are commonly prescribed together for people with hypertension and are available under various pharmaceutical brand names.
Researchers from the University of Waterloo in Ontario examined the interaction of the three types of commonly-used medications. Through the use of computer-simulated drug trials, the research team found that in certain patients with specific medical profiles, the combination of all three medications can lead to acute kidney injury. And, in some cases, the injury caused by the medicine combination can be permanent, the researchers said.
The use of computer-simulated drug trials was selected by the University of Waterloo team because it can more quickly provide results than in-human studies. The university noted that its team combined mathematics and computer science in order to offer medical practitioners a head start with issues like drug complications.
Anita Layton, professor of applied mathematics at Waterloo and Canada 150 Research Chair in mathematical biology and medicine, noted that not everyone who takes this combination will have these kinds of problems. But, she said the drug combination could be enough of a problem that people should exercise caution.
“Diuretics are a family of drugs that make the body hold less water,” Layton said. “Being dehydrated is a major factor in acute kidney injury, and then the RAS inhibitor and ibuprofen hit the kidney with this triple whammy. If you happen to be on these hypertension drugs and need a painkiller, consider acetaminophen instead.”
Ibuprofen has been known to negatively impact other blood pressure medications, particularly ace inhibitors such as Vasotec or Lotensin, or beta-blockers like Lopressor. The combination of ibuprofen with these drugs has been known to cause heartburn, upset stomach and even ulcers. Ibuprofen on its own can also lead to certain side effects, such as gas or bloating, diarrhea or constipation.
The research was presented in the journal Mathematical Biosciences. In addition to Layton, the paper was co-authored by Jessica Leete, Carolyn Wang and Francisco J. López-Hernández.
