Kidney Disease
 

I have just been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney disease. It seems that my long term use of NSAIDS for low back pain (prescribed by my doctor) has led to this problem. At any rate, the nephrologist lowered my dosage of mestinon to 30 mg 6 times per day instead of 60 mg 6 times per day. Is there a connection between mestinon and kidney disease also?

I am so sorry to hear that!

I haven't read that there's a connection between Mestinon and kidney disease.

Have you been evaluated for lupus?

Did the nephrologist give you a plan? A different diet? A placement on a kidney transplant list or a plan for doing dialysis?

My Dad had kidney failure and it's not a fun thing to have happen. If you are going to up for a kidney transplant, make sure you ask if it's a good kidney before you have a transplant! Some of the ones they transplant aren't.

Did the nephrologist say if any damage could be reversed? The body has amazing healing powers.

NSAIDs are wicked bad for the kidneys when used on a long-term basis. I'm truly sorry you're having to go through this. I hope you'll speak to both your neuro and primary doctor, too.

:hug:
Annie

How much nsaids is too much? I take ibuprofen.

So sorry to hear that you are having this problem. I have a friend at work that said that his kidney problems are caused by an autoimmune issue.

As far as to why they will increase the mestinon dosage, it is most likely because the kidneys are what gets rid of your old mestinon. If you take as much as you used to, your blood levels may get to toxic levels.

"Renal Dysfunction
In anephric patients (n=4), the elimination half-life increased 3 fold and the systemic clearance
decreased by 75%. Therefore caution should be observed when administering pyridostigmine
bromide to patients with impaired renal function."

Source: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/E.../UCM133154.pdf

(This was from the military use of the drug, but the mechanism is the same.)

THANK YOU! This makes perfect sense!

I don't know how much is too much. I was taking one 375 mg tablet 3 times per day. I've been on naproxen for 5 years. Last year all my kidney function tests were normal. My GFR was in the high 60s. This time my GFR was 23. Less than 15 requires dialysis or a transplant. Had I known of this danger I believe I would have insisted on narcotics, as crazy as that sounds.

Thanks Annie. I was only diagnosed a few days ago and haven't received much instruction yet. Mostly I've been told to avoid foods with a lot of potassium or phosphorus. I will be seeing my doctors in the near future.

Dave, since you had such a big drop in your GFR over a relatively short period of time, I would highly suggest that you get an evaluation from either your primary doctor or an immunologist.

Have you had food poisoning? Are you on other drugs? OTCs?

Do you have high blood pressure? Did they do an ultrasound of your kidneys to look for renal artery stenosis?

A drug is an easy answer as to why this has occurred, but that might not be the correct answer. You really need to know why!

I hope you'll ask for more investigating right away.

Annie