Common Blood Pressure Drugs Linked to Increased Kidney Disease Risk

In this study, researchers followed more than 31,000 adults with type 2 diabetes for five years and found that those taking a group of blood pressure drugs known as dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (DCCBs) had a 33 percent higher risk of major kidney complications than patients using other blood pressure treatments.

The kidney problems seen in the study included a fall of more than 40 percent in the kidneys’ ability to filter the blood, as well as progression to kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant. All of the participants were already receiving other medicines intended to protect the kidneys. The researchers suggested that DCCBs may alter blood flow within the kidneys in a way that places additional strain on their delicate filtering system.

The researchers say their results deserve further investigation, particularly because these drugs are so widely prescribed. People with type 2 diabetes are already especially vulnerable to kidney disease, making early detection important. Despite this, large numbers of patients at risk are reportedly missing out on simple urine tests that can identify kidney damage at an early stage, when measures can still be taken to slow its progression.

To learn how calcium-channel blockers decrease collagen production and, in so doing, increase the risk of heart attacks, see this article on our website.

To check out Dr. Rath’s Cellular Health recommendations for high blood pressure, see this page on our website.