Medications that can cause acute renal failure
Many medications can cause acute renal failure. Examples include:
- Antibiotics, such as aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, amphotericin B, bacitracin, acyclovir, and vancomycin.
- Blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors (such as captopril and ramipril) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
- Medicines used for cancer treatment (chemotherapy), such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and methotrexate.
- Dyes (contrast media) used in medical imaging tests.
- Illegal drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamine.
- Medicines used to treat HIV (protease inhibitors), such as indinavir and ritonavir.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or aspirin.
- Ulcer medicines such as cimetidine (Tagamet).
Other chemicals, such as insecticides, herbicides, and ethylene glycol, can also cause acute renal failure.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: June 14, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine D.C. Mendelssohn, MD, FRCPC - Nephrology | |
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