It’s officially flu season, and numerous ailments are circulating that are leaving people feeling poorly – and in some instances, completely confined to bed. Nobody enjoys being unwell, but according to one pharmacist, you could actually face a greater risk due to the routine medications you’re taking.
Anum, a clinical pharmacist based in the UK, posted a video on TikTok explaining that individuals on certain medications who continue taking them during illnesses causing vomiting, diarrhoea, or fever could severely impact their kidneys – potentially making them extremely poorly.
These medicines include ACE inhibitors prescribed for blood pressure, such as ramipril, diuretics like furosemide, and metformin, which helps manage diabetes.
She explained: “There are some medications that require you to temporarily stop them in the event that you become unwell with diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and/or you’re not able to keep any fluids down. The reason for this is to prevent the likelihood of you developing acute kidney injury.”
“Medications that fall under this criteria include things like ACE inhibitors, which we commonly prescribe for blood pressure, and include things like ramipril and lisinopril. Also commonly prescribed diabetic medications, such as metformin. Stopping these during acute periods of illness will reduce the likelihood of you having any damage to your kidneys.”
In the caption accompanying her video, the pharmacist outlined all the categories of medications that can trigger kidney complications when taken during severe illness.
These include: SGLT2 inhibitors such as dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, diuretics like furosemide, ARBs including losartan, candesartan, and even NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen.
Anum stressed that if you do cease taking these medications temporarily, they should only be resumed once you’ve recovered and have been eating and drinking normally for at least 24 to 48 hours.
Most crucially, however, you should seek guidance from your GP or pharmacist before making any alterations to your medication regimen, including discontinuing and restarting it.
She added: “Don’t stop insulin or essential meds without advice. Always ask your pharmacist or GP if unsure!”.
Anum’s guidance aligns with NHS recommendations, which refer to this as the “sick day rules”. The NHS guidelines clarify that the advice does “not apply to minor sickness and diarrhoea, meaning single episodes happening only once in a period of time”, but is instead designed to provide guidance during prolonged periods of illness.
They state: “Fluid loss and dehydration can be a significant risk to patients taking certain medicines, particularly when intercurrent illness is present with existing medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or chronic kidney disease.
“Dehydration, Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and complications of diabetes can be reduced by applying sick day rules for certain medications during acute severe intercurrent illness.”
Always consult your GP before making changes to your medication.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
