Analgesic Nephropathy — A Preventable Renal Disease

Each day in the United States, television advertisements advocate the use of analgesics, available without prescription, for the aches, pains, and headaches of daily living. Because of the effectiveness of modern advertising, the sale of analgesics over the counter has grown to become a huge industry. In addition, analgesics available by prescription generally contain similar ingredients in larger doses, sometimes in combination with narcotics, barbiturates, antihistamines, or decongestants. The 1989 Physicians' Desk Reference lists more than 75 combinations of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine, in addition to many preparations that contain only one ingredient.1 In a carefully performed case–control study reported . . .