Methamphetamine and the kidneys

[Chip (OP)]

This is a new issue for me. I just joined the dots and when a long-term using friend died from kidney failure, I didn't  really know why but now that my own kidneys are hurting today, I'm starting to think that even weekly use may be the meth.

Does anybody have any experience with Methamphetamine and kidney issues ?

Is once a week likely to damage my kidneys since I have been doing it for over a few years ?

[Esoteric Anhydride]

Tweak is very hard on kidneys. I had a neighbor who almost died from kidney failure while smoking speed.

Be careful Chipper.

[Zoops]

Yeah, I can imagine the very fine network of blood vessels in the kidneys is prone to damage from chronic elevated BP caused by methamphetamine.

Is that what causes the damage - high BP? Because hypertension can cause renal disease if left untreated. I imagine it can damage your eyes too?

[Chip (OP)]

Thanks guys, I will try to do it only occasionally but damn, it's scary.

[Esoteric Anhydride]

Yeah, I can imagine the very fine network of blood vessels in the kidneys is prone to damage from chronic elevated BP caused by methamphetamine.

Is that what causes the damage - high BP? Because hypertension can cause renal disease if left untreated. I imagine it can damage your eyes too?

I've heard for a long time that the shit is hard on various organs and systems, but regarding kidneys I've never heard anything about the mechanism behind the damage, only that it apparently doesn't metabolize down much and that the molecule itself (not metabolites) is damaging to kidneys.

[Chip (OP)]

I found some more on this at narconon.org:

The increased heart rate and constriction of blood vessels common with stimulant abuse can also cut off the flow of blood to the kidneys, again, resulting in failure.

Hyperthermia, or increased body temperature, is a common result of stimulant abuse. Hyperthermia can reach dangerous—even fatal—levels. If a person also becomes dehydrated, the kidneys will be highly stressed, may break down completely and death can result.

... and I found this (elsewhere) too:

Meth can also damage the kidneys. The body uses the kidneys to filter waste products from the body. When the meth is filtered through the kidneys, it causes blood vessels in the kidneys to constrict. This leads to a decrease in urine production and allows toxins to be reabsorbed into the body.

[Opi-ette]

Chipper how are you feeling today? Do they still hurt? Please be careful, we need you!

[Chip (OP)]

Opi-ette, no they don't hurt today but i recently dropped my Methadone dose a bit and all sort of niggles and pains popped up but they are now subsiding as i get used to my new dose.

thank you for your concerns.

[Opi-ette]

Oh thats good to hear  Can I ask how you know its your kidneys? I ask because I have a bad back (lumbar area) and wonder how people differentiate kidney pain from back pain.

[Chip (OP)]

sure, kidney pain is higher up than general back pain - it's just under your back's rib cage. mind you, i could be wrong and hope i am but it does make sense.

I also took this from http://www.medicinenet.com/ :
 
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs (about 11 cm x 7 cm x 3 cm) that are located against the back muscles in the upper abdominal area. They sit opposite each other on both the left and right side of the body; the right kidney, however, sits a little lower than the left to accommodate the size of the liver.

[Zoops]

In addition to being a potent vasoconstrictor, methamphetamine, and any amphetamine, for that matter, is relatively strong in the pKa department, meaning it is a strong base, compared to other types of molecules and substances floating around in the physiological milieu.

This might also be cause for some of the damaging effects of tweak on the kidneys. The kidneys work by allowing blood to flow through a very fine network of blood vessels, where waste products and drug metabolites are filtered out, while the stuff your body needs are re-absorbed.

Methamphetamine, by virtue of its being a basic, alkaline substance, might cause some direct physical damage to these extremely fine blood vessels, which, for all intents and purposes have walls that are but one cell layer thick.

[Chip (OP)]

At least the pain has gone away and I really don't take more than approx 150 mg. a week and my urine color hasn't been dark at all lately so I hope that is a good indicator of my kidney health.

[smalls]

Speaking of reabsorbed toxins, when I don't shit for a week does my body absorb toxins from the poo that just sits in my colon until it's a rock hard mass the size of a 16 oz can of Dr. Pepper?

Any time there's talk of kidneys I like to mention that I have only one. Was born that way. I didn't even know it until I was in my 20s. Crazy huh? I guess back in the 80s they were satisfied with counting a newborn's 10 fingers and 10 toes and called it a day. Nowadays I think they check for all the organs during pregnancy.

[Chip (OP)]

That's interesting ... i only have sight in one eye - wanna swap ?

I think that only one kidney is ok and I'm not too sure why we have two anyway.

[theSWPK]

Back when I would have extended tweekend runs that would go from Friday to Tuesday or sometimes longer. I would use either lisdextroamphetamine or meth, and my  kidneys would hurt afterwards.
Could have been from zero food and dehydration but I've always done very well on staying hydrated when using stims.

Also, I have 2 healthy kidneys, and most likely would do fine with just one. But I know, the second I take up an offer to sell a kidney for $20,000 that, just to fuck with me, the remaining one would fail.