Why Tylenol??

[paul.karen]

My neph has stressed over and over to use only tylenopl for minor pains and headaches.

I made a joke last time i saw him and asked if he had stock in Tylenol.  He didn't laugh which made me laugh.

So does anyone know why so many nephs say to use Tylenol? 
Just curious.
I use to use alive(till i met my neph) and that stuff works so much better IMO.

[Tinah1968]

Mine tells me the same thing.. And the difference is that Tylenol is processed through your liver not through the kidney and advil goes through the kidney and makes it work harder which in our case is not a good thing. But, that is just what he told me... I hope it is true

[paul.karen]

thx that makes sense.....

[monrein]

http://www.kidney.org/ATOZ/atozItem.cfm?id=23

Aspirin also holds more potential for bleeding.  My husband used to take a half aspirin a day for heart health and on one of our wilderness canoe trips he picked up a leech.  When he noticed it and pulled it off (he should have put Muskol on it to get it to let go but that's a different story) he bled for almost six hours.  The doctor cut back the aspirin dramatically after that.

[kellyt]

I can't believe your doctor didn't tell you the reason.  That's crazy.  When I was first diagnosed in the mid 90's that was one of the first things I was told to stop....and why.


Your reason is absolutely right, Tinah.  Tylenol is metabolized through the liver and  Advil/Aleeve, Ibuprofen and the like is metabolized through the kidneys.   I think "metabolized" is the right word.  Maybe "processed" would be better...?"

[Tinah1968]

 

[kitkatz]

I have notice Aleve give me a faster heart rate when I take it.

Every now and then an Excedrin will knock the beginning of a migraine, but I do not take it often.


Docs say Tylenol.

[KarenInWA]

Aleve (naproxen) and Advil (ibuprofen) are both a part of a class of drugs called NSAID's (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs).  We kidney patients need to stay away from them!  It sucks, because those drugs work great for pain, but they wreck havoc on our kidneys.  So, if you are ever prescribed a pain med by any other doctor, please ask him/her if it's in that class of drug.  Back in 2003, a foot doctor prescribed one of those to me, and I didn't know what it was, and didn't bother to ask.  Thankfully, I only took a few (he gave me samples).  It was for what he thought at the time was a hairline fracture in my big toe.  Found out a week later that it was actually gout, caused by - you guessed it - my kidney disease!!! I ended up going on 3 rounds of low-dose prednisone for 6 days at a time, and finally ended up on allupurinol 100 mg/day.  Fun, fun!!!  I don't know how many of you have had gout, but let me tell you - it SUCKS!!!!

KarenInWA






EDITED:Fixed italics tag error-kitkatz-Moderator

[Tinah1968]

KareninWA, I had Gout and it is the worst thing ever.. The swelling of the feet and you can't sleep or move at night without waking up in pain. it is Awful... I usedto get it just on 1 foot now at times I get it on both feet at the same time and man that is just the worst.

[joyfulmother]

HOw about when your kidney function is gone?  Does it matter at that point?

[kellyt]

That I don't know and wouldn't want to speculate.  Ask your doctor.   I'd be interested in the answer.

[TwistedKitten]

my doctor told me once that it didn't matter once the kidney function is gone. what are the pills gonna do anywayz. your kidneys already don't work.  lol

[boxman55]

That I don't know and wouldn't want to speculate.  Ask your doctor.   I'd be interested in the answer.

I have no kidney function and my nepth writes me a script for naproxen 375mg and I take two a day...Boxman

[kitkatz]

However I have noticed with decreased kidney function in my defunct kidneys, I get a fast heart rate when I take naproxen sodium, or Advil. Also the effects last longer in my system. Where I would normally last with Tylenol 4 to 6 hours, those pills last 6 to 8 hours.  I also think the toxicity can build up faster in the body from these meds because the body cannot filtrate them out through the kidneys.   I think you have to be super careful.

[okarol]

HOw about when your kidney function is gone?  Does it matter at that point?

Protect your remaining kidney function

Studies show that remaining kidney function contributes to better outcomes
in dialysis patients. ask your dialysis care team about the following steps to
help keep remaining kidney function:

Take blood pressure pills called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhib-
itors (aCeIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (aRBs) if you have high
blood pressure. These medicines help to protect kidney function.

Avoid medicines that can harm your kidneys, such as pain-relieving
medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSaIDs) and
certain antibiotics.

Ask your doctor about taking diuretics (water pills) to help remove salt
and water from your blood.

Make sure conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure are
well-controlled.

from: www.homedialysis.org/resources/tom/200706

[Restorer]

Additionally, I've found that ibuprofen and naproxen can sometimes cause potassium fluctuations. I don't know the circumstances under which it happens, but the day I was diagnosed, I had to go the ER after heart problems caused by high potassium. I hadn't eaten much of anything with potassium that day, but I did take some ibuprofen for a stiff neck fifteen minutes before my heart freaked out.

Months later I found a source that listed cell->blood potassium shifts as a possible side effect of ibuprofen and naproxen.

[paddbear0000]

What kitkatz last said is exactly right. If your kidneys no longer function, the levels of the drugs that are filtered out by the kidneys, can build up to toxic levels. And since dialysis only filters a small percentage of what a fully functioning kidney can filter, dialysis is not going to rid your body of the drugs entirely. I took some Nyquil a few weeks ago and by mid-day the next day, I realized that it must filter through the kidneys. I stayed unbelievably groggy and felt high the rest of the day (I took it the night before).

[Romona]

I get really nervous when I see people popping more than the recommened doses of Advil and Aleve. I tell then they can be kidney killers. When people say "i don't care, that is only thing that helps my pain." I want to shake them.

[nursewratchet]

Our Dr. says  the kidney is hanging from the machine, and can't be damaged.  He monitors residual function, and if there is none left, then NSAIDS are fine, barring any other problems. 

[kitkatz]

I hurt so bad one night I asked the nurse at the dialysis center what to take.  He said take what works for you.  I was popping Tylenol and Aleve, then went to an Excedrin about 8 hours later.

However if I notice reactions or strange things happening I go back to the Tylenol.

[pdpatty]

The last time I took Advil was back in the late 90's. I had been taking it for years for the `strange' undiagnosed pain  in my ankles.(It was later found to be gout) But this last time I took two pills,within 30 mins ,my kidneys went into spasms. Worst thing I ever felt. Never took any more but until they discoverd my kidney disease,I was given Indocin for gout. Miracle drug .
BUT,since I've been on hemo,I've had no more gout attacks.
I use only xtra strength Tylenol. One of my nepths said arthritus strength would also be safe to use.

[skyedogrocks]

What about Exedrin, can kidney patients take that?

I get nervous because Rob suffers from seasonal migraines and worry that he won't be able to take anything for them.  Tylenol doesn't even dent them.

[TwistedKitten]

What about Exedrin, can kidney patients take that?

I get nervous because Rob suffers from seasonal migraines and worry that he won't be able to take anything for them.  Tylenol doesn't even dent them.

I've got the same problem with migraines. I've tried everything...from Tylenol to Exedrin...and even that didn't work. Finally I had to get a scrip for Percocet....nothing else seems to work for my migraines.

[paddbear0000]

The combo analgesics (like the Excedrin Migraine) are supposed to be just as bad for the kidneys as the NSAIDS.