Topic Overview

Many medicines can cause acute kidney injury (which used to be called acute renal failure), such as:

• Antibiotics. These include aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, amphotericin B, bacitracin, and vancomycin.
• Some blood pressure medicines. One example is ACE inhibitors, such as lisinopril and ramipril. Another is angiotensin receptor blockers. These include candesartan and valsartan.
• Medicines used for cancer treatment (chemotherapy). Examples are cisplatin, carboplatin, and methotrexate.
• Dyes (contrast media). These are used in medical imaging tests.
• Illegal drugs. Examples are heroin and methamphetamine.
• Medicines used to treat HIV. They are called protease inhibitors. Examples are indinavir and ritonavir.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen.
• Ulcer medicines. One example is cimetidine.

Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Make sure every doctor you see knows about all of the medicines, vitamins, or natural health products you take. This means anything you take with or without a prescription.

Other chemicals can also cause acute kidney injury. They include insecticides, herbicides, and ethylene glycol.