Chronic Kidney Disease Medications

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) cannot be reversed, but certain medications may help to treat its symptoms and complications, which can control its progression of advancing kidney failure.

Medicines to treat high blood pressure

Many people with chronic kidney disease may have high blood pressure. Medicines that lower blood pressure help to keep CKD in a target range and stop any further kidney damage.

1. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) for high blood pressure

ACE inhibitors or Angiotensin II receptor blockers prevent an enzyme needed to form a substance which can narrow blood vessels. As a result, blood vessels relax and widen, making it convenient for blood to flow through the vessels, which reduces blood pressure.

2. Beat-Blockers for high blood pressure

Beta-blockers lower the heart rate, the amount of blood which the heart pumps out, and the force of heartbeat. If all of the above are lowered, high blood pressure will be lowered.

3. Direct renin inhibitors

Direct renin inhibitors prevent the enzyme renin from triggering a process which helps regulate blood pressure. Under this condition, your blood vessels will also relax and open up, which makes it easier for blood to flow through the vessels. For this reason, high blood pressure will be lowered.

4. Vasodilators for high blood pressure

This medicine also lowers your high blood pressure by opening up your blood vessels, which makes blood flow through the vessels easily. Therefore, your high blood pressure is lowered.

You may need to try several medicines that control your high blood pressure, before you find the most suitable and effective medicine without side-effects.

Medicines are used to treat anemia

Erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy and iron replacement therapy used to treat anemia

It refers that erythropoietin stimulating agents make the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells which carry oxygen throughout your body. It contributes to alleviate your anemia. However, some people who get erythropoietin therapy continue to have anemia due to low levels of iron in their blood. In this condition, people have to get extra iron to treat this problem, called intravenous iron.

Medicine used to treat edema

Diuretic can be used to treat edema or swelling in chronic kidney disease.

Diuretic is a substance which can remove water from the body by promoting urine formation and the loss of salt or sodium, so it is used to treat edema or swelling.

Medicines used during dialysis

1. Erythropoietin (rhEPO) and iron therapy

Erythropoietin (rhEPO) is responsible for producing more red blood cells and may decrease the need for blood transfusions. This therapy may also be used before dialysis is needed, when anemia is severe and causing symptoms. In addition, if erythropoietin therapy is not effective, you can use iron therapy.

2. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption. If your body does not ingest enough calcium, it may cause bone disease and make your bone easily broken. Getting enough vitamin D helps keep bones strong and healthy.

The above medications may be helpful for CKD symptoms and complications. Please remember the medications may have side-effects, so before taking any medicine, you should consult your doctor and choose medications depending on your own illness conditions.