Analgesics and Chronic Renal Disease

Intake of analgesics has been associated with the presence of chronic renal diseases in a number of studies. Phenacetin was the first drug to be linked with chronic renal disease. Four out of five case-control studies that have examined this issue have also demonstrated an association of acetaminophen use with renal disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have not been available for a long enough time to evaluate risk associated with their use. Several studies suggest that mixtures of analgesics are most harmful to the Kidney. The National Kidney Foundation recently issued a position paper on analgesics and the kidney that provides guidance to patients and providers.