Study: Kidney Harm Possible from NSAIDs

Kidney damage can occur in children taking common drugs for fever and pain relief, a study finds. Researchers looked at records for about 1,000 cases of kidney damage treated at a children’s hospital. In about 3% of cases, the damage was related to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). About two-thirds of these children had been using the common drug ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others). Other NSAIDs include naproxen (Aleve) and ketorolac (Toradol). Most of the children had been taking normal doses for a week or less. Most of them also were dehydrated. They did not have normal amounts of fluid in their bodies. Many had lost fluids through vomiting and diarrhea, as well as not drinking enough. The kidneys have a way to protect themselves from damage when the body becomes dehydrated. But researchers said the NSAIDs interfere with this protection.