• 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

  • Urologist
  • Torrance, CA

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.

  • Urologist
  • Detroit, MI

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.

  • Urologist
  • Houston, TX

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.

  • Urologist
  • Corbin, KY

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.

  • Urologist
  • Reston, Virginia

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

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