Bednar Barbara
Reliant Renal Care, Media, PA, USA.
Nephrol News Issues. 2009 Jul;23(8):36, 38-40, 43-4.
There are more than 400,000 over-the-counter (OTC) medications available in drug stores across the country, and the list continues to grow. The movement of prescription medications to OTC medications has been rapidly escalating since 1997. In general, if taken correctly by "healthy" individuals, OTC medications are safe. But, who is "healthy"? Millions of Americans have chronic kidney disease and have not yet been diagnosed. Likewise, through the normal aging process, renal function has already declined for millions of Baby Boomers who consider themselves "healthy." The current self-care movement implies that we are capable of self diagnosing our condition and to self prescribe the correct medication for treatment. Unfortunately, we may be unaware of the side effects, ingredients, or correct dosage of OTC medications. By understanding the effects of OTC medications on renal function, clinicians will be positioned to educate family, friends, and the community at large to limit their exposure to drugs that may accelerate loss of kidney function, or acute renal failure.
全国药店中有超过40万种非处方药（OTC），而且这个清单还在不断增加。自1997年以来，处方药转为非处方药的趋势一直在迅速上升。一般来说，如果“健康”个体正确服用，非处方药是安全的。但是，谁是“健康的”呢？数以百万计的美国人患有慢性肾病但尚未被诊断出来。同样，由于正常的衰老过程，数百万自认为“健康”的婴儿潮一代的肾功能已经下降。当前的自我护理运动意味着我们有能力自我诊断病情并自行开出正确的治疗药物。不幸的是，我们可能不知道非处方药的副作用、成分或正确剂量。通过了解非处方药对肾功能的影响，临床医生将能够教育家人、朋友和广大社区，以限制他们接触可能加速肾功能丧失或急性肾衰竭的药物。
