Pharmaceuticals (Apr 2010)

The Role of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Renal Colic

  • Elizabeth Waine,
  • Kim Davenport

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph3051304
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 5
pp. 1304 – 1310

Abstract

Read online

NSAIDs provide optimal analgesia in renal colic due to the reduction in glomerular filtration and renal pelvic pressure, ureteric peristalsis and ureteric oedema. Prevention of glomerular afferent arteriolar vasodilatation renders these patients at risk of renal impairment. NSAIDs have the additional benefit of reducing the number of new colic episodes and preventing subsequent readmission to hospital. Despite recent work promoting the use of pharmacological agents to improve stone passage rates, NSAIDs do not appear to reduce the time to stone passage or increase the likelihood of stone passage in renal colic.

Keywords