Dear Dr. Fritz,
Please call me Joe M. I have heard that antihypertensive drugs can cause kidney stones. How true is this? And what antihypertensive drugs could that be? I am anxious because I am taking antihypertensive medications for my hypertension.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
Joe M.
Dear Joe M.,
You have heard it right. There are antihypertensive drugs that can pose a threat to the formation of kidney stones and even their recurrence. This is according to a new secondary analysis on the antihypertensive drugs chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide. I hope you are not taking these drugs at this time because you might worry a lot upon hearing this. But, don’t fret, if you do, this is not the end of the road.
In an analysis presented at the National Kidney Foundation’s Spring Clinical Meeting 2025, where they have studied 13,523 patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs health system aged 65 or older, who had hypertension and were initially treated with hydrochlorothiazide at 25 or 50 mg/d, they found no significant differences in the development of kidney stones between the two groups. But, those who had a history of kidney stones, patients who were treated with chlorthalidone had a significantly higher risk of their kidney stones recurring, at an estimated 40% of patients recurring within five years and 75% over 20 years when treatment is not effective.
The take-home message here is that even these data are not conclusive at this time, since they are only secondary analysis and lack the accounting of various factors influencing the choice of the potassium supplements, clinicians need to be careful on using chlorthalidone for managing hypertension, especially in those with pre-existing kidney stones.
I do hope this helps. Good luck!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist, surgeon, and clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15-year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.”. For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, ℅ Sunstar-Davao Publishing Inc., Door 11, Ebro-Pelayo Building 1, Juan Luna St., Barangay 29-C, Davao City, or e-mail them to dokatlaw@gmail.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)