Kidney Stones: Medicines That Increase Your Risk

Topic Overview

Some medicines make it more likely that you will develop a specific type of kidney stone.

Calcium stones

Medicines that make you more likely to develop calcium stones include:

• Loop diuretics, such as furosemide and acetazolamide.
• Some antacids.
• Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone.
• Theophylline.

Vitamins C and D can increase your risk of calcium stones when you take more than the daily recommendations.

Uric acid stones

Medicines that make you more likely to develop uric acid stones include:

• Thiazides, such as hydrochlorothiazide.
• Aspirin products (salicylates).
• Gout medicine, such as probenecid.

Medicines that actually make stones

Some medicines will result in your body making kidney stones. These include:

• Potassium-sparing diuretics, such as triamterene.
• Antivirals, such as acyclovir.
• Protease inhibitors, such as indinavir.