Why can one ibuprofen tip the kidneys over?
The ‘triple whammy’: an ACE inhibitor or ARB, a diuretic — and an NSAID on top.
Select any card for the reasoning, what to watch for and an exam tip.

The puzzle
A 78-year-old on ramipril and indapamide buys ibuprofen for a painful knee. After a bout of diarrhoea, his creatinine has doubled.
The answer, step by step
Who is most at risk
- Older people, and anyone with an eGFR below 50 — STOPP advises against NSAIDs here.
- Severe heart failure or severe hypertension (STOPP).
- Dehydration: vomiting, diarrhoea, fever — or acute heavy drinking with an NSAID.
What to do
Key takeaway
Each drug removes one of the kidney’s defences of its filtration pressure; take all three — especially when dehydrated — and acute kidney injury follows.