Topic Overview

Many medicines can cause acute renal failure. Examples include:

• Antibiotics, such as aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, amphotericin B, bacitracin, and vancomycin.
• Blood pressure medicines called ACE inhibitors (such as captopril and ramipril) and angiotensin receptor blockers (such as candesartan and valsartan).
• Medicines used for cancer treatment (chemotherapy), such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and methotrexate.
• Dyes (contrast media) used in medical imaging tests.
• Illegal drugs, such as heroin and methamphetamine.
• Medicines used to treat HIV (protease inhibitors), such as indinavir and ritonavir.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or aspirin.
• Ulcer medicines such as cimetidine.

Other chemicals, such as insecticides, herbicides, and ethylene glycol, can also cause acute renal failure.