Popping Oral Antibiotics Linked to Higher Risk of Kidney Stones

Stop popping antibiotics! A study points to the higher risk of developing kidney stones.

Popping antibiotics can put you at risk of developing kidney stones.

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If you are still popping antibiotics like candy, stop. According to a new study published in Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, popping oral antibiotics can up your risk of developing kidney stones.

Since kidney stones are associated with changes in the bacteria found in your intestine and urinary tract, researchers decided to looking into the connection. Cases of kidney stone have risen drastically over the last few decades.

The Study

Researchers examined nearly 26,000 patients diagnosed with kidney stones, and a control group of almost 260,000 people without kidney stones in the UK from 1994 to 2015.

They found that at least 5 types of antibiotics, sulfas, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurantoin/methenamine and broad-spectrum penicillins, were linked with a higher risk of kidney stones, when taken three to 12 months before diagnosis.

The highest risk was associated with Sulfas, which is used for treatment of urinary tract infection and burns.

(With inputs from TIME)