“Can you treat kidney stones with medication?”
I have been experiencing kidney stones, and am terrified of undergoing any kind of procedure. Is is possible to treat kidney stones and shrink their size with medications?
5 Answers
Only if they are uric acid stones, which means they should not be visible on a plain x-ray (visible on CT scan). if the stone is in your ureter, medicine is unlikely to work in shrinking it, and it takes a few weeks to a few months in the kidney. However, depending on size of the stone, location, and degree of pain you are having, waiting to pass it can be an option.
Most small kidney stones won't require invasive treatment. You may be able to pass a small stone by:
•Drinking water. Drinking as much as 2 to 3 quarts a day may help flush out your urinary system. .
•Pain relievers. Passing a small stone can cause some discomfort. ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).
•Medical therapy. Your doctor may give you a medication to help pass your kidney stone.
•Drinking water. Drinking as much as 2 to 3 quarts a day may help flush out your urinary system. .
•Pain relievers. Passing a small stone can cause some discomfort. ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).
•Medical therapy. Your doctor may give you a medication to help pass your kidney stone.
Not usually. There are some stones (uric acid stones) that can be dissolved with medication but most (85-90%) are calcium-type stones are unfortunately cannot be treated with medications.
The treatments now are very minimally invasive so at least go talk with a urologist about treatment options so you at least know what is possible.
The treatments now are very minimally invasive so at least go talk with a urologist about treatment options so you at least know what is possible.
The only stone which can be downsized is uric acid stones - 3% of stones. Most stones cannot be dissolved. Preventing the stones from growing is the key issue. This can be treated with medications.
The only stones that you can dissolve are Cysteine and uric acid stones. They only compromise 10% of all stones. Most of them are calcium oxalate and those require intervention because they do not dissolve.
Dr. Niko Lailas
Dr. Niko Lailas
