Pharmacist Sonja Keizers answers
I have been taking irbesartan (75 mg) for high blood pressure for 9 years. My kidney values have deteriorated more and more since then. Yet I don’t get another blood pressure pill, because this drug also seems to protect the kidneys. What’s up with that?
Medications such as irbesartan (A2 antagonists and ACE inhibitors) have both positive and negative effects on the kidneys. They widen the blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. In addition, there is a protective effect on the kidneys because proteins are better blocked and do not end up in the urine. The drugs also have a beneficial effect on the heart muscle. All in all, they are excellent drugs for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes or early kidney disease. However, if you have a reduced kidney function, you have to be careful with these drugs. This is because the blood flow to the kidneys decreases, so that they purify the blood less well. That is why it is wise to keep a close eye on kidney function. If necessary, the dose can be adjusted according to renal function.
Also send in your medicine request. That’s possible here.
Sources):
- Plus Magazine
