Hanoi man hospitalized with kidney failure after meth use during mountain trip

Nguyen Dang Quoc, head of Thanh Nhan Hospital’s Artificial Kidney Department, said Friday that the man arrived at the hospital in critical condition with severe muscle pain, swelling and dangerously reduced urine output. Blood tests revealed elevated liver enzymes and extremely high levels of creatine kinase, a sign of rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition where muscle tissue breaks down and releases toxins into the bloodstream, overwhelming the kidneys.

The patient told doctors he had spent the day hiking in Tam Dao before taking crystal meth that evening. Within hours, alarming symptoms began to emerge.

Crystal meth itself does not directly damage the kidneys, but it overstimulates the central nervous system, Quoc explained. When combined with strenuous physical activity like mountain climbing, it can cause severe muscle breakdown, releasing toxins that severely strain multiple organs, especially the kidneys.

Doctors immediately put the patient on dialysis and administered medication to flush out toxins and stabilize his condition. After a month of intensive treatment, he was discharged, but doctors warned that long-term complications remain a risk. The man will need monthly check-ups for at least a year to monitor his recovery.