Painkillers, antibiotics, and kidney disease: Why has drug regulator issued a fresh warning?
The regulator has asked the public not to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or antibiotics indiscriminately, repeatedly or for prolonged periods without medical advice.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a fresh warning against the misuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, which can lead to kidney disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The warning, announced on September 21, emphasizes the need for medical supervision and prescription when using these medications.
Most NSAIDs and antibiotics are prescription-only medications under specific drug schedules in India, and they should only be used for medically indicated conditions, in appropriate doses, and for the prescribed duration.
The kidney warning is particularly relevant to NSAIDs, which can reduce blood flow to the kidneys and increase the risk of acute kidney injury, especially in people with pre-existing kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension. Long-term use of NSAIDs has also been linked to the development or progression of CKD. The CDSCO's warning does not imply that all painkillers or antibiotics are unsafe; rather, it cautions against inappropriate selection, dosing, duration, and unsupervised use.
Antibiotic overuse and misuse contribute to the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses a significant threat to public health. Resistant bacteria can spread to other individuals and through healthcare and environmental pathways, leading to more challenging and costly infections. Globally, bacterial AMR was estimated to be responsible for more than 4.7 million deaths in 2021, and approximately one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections was resistant to antibiotics in 2023.
Indian pharmacovigilance data suggest that children are a vulnerable group for both NSAIDs and antibiotics, with substantial self-medication occurring in this population. Parents or caregivers may administer these medicines based on previous prescriptions, advice from pharmacies, or family members. The recent Indian meta-analysis found a substantial prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among children.
The CDSCO's warning underscores the importance of prescription enforcement and antibiotic stewardship in India. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials drive the emergence of AMR, which has significant implications for both individual health and global public health.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
