October 14, 2025

Many kidney donors are prescribed medications that may harm their kidney health

A recent study found that many living kidney donors were prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)— despite guidelines suggesting that donors avoid these medications. 

NSAIDs are commonly used to relieve pain, but they can negatively affect the kidneys by reducing filtration rates, increasing the risk of kidney inflammation, and raising the risk of kidney disease progression when used over time. Although few studies have directly examined these effects in living kidney donors, experts generally advise donors—who have only one kidney—to avoid NSAIDs whenever possible.  

To better understand how many donors may be using NSAIDs, Mikayla Laube and colleagues at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine analyzed the health records of 759 living kidney donors in Alberta. The study excluded aspirin, as it is a common over-the-counter medication that poses less risk to kidney health.  

The researchers found that 36 per cent of donors had received at least one NSAID prescription during a median follow-up period of 7.2 years after donating a kidney. Family physicians accounted for two-thirds (66 per cent) of NSAID prescriptions, while there were no documented prescriptions from kidney specialists. The most frequently prescribed NSAIDs were naproxen and diclofenac.  

Donors from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to be prescribed NSAIDs—a finding the authors suggest may relate to differences in health literacy or a higher burden of other health conditions. The study highlights the need for further research exploring NSAID use in living kidney donors to develop safe, effective pain management strategies for this population.