Medications for Treating Kidney Disease and its Complications, including High Blood Pressure
As soon as kidney failure is diagnosed, patients are given medication to help control the symptoms and slow the progress of the damage to the kidneys. In some cases, the use of medication and diet alone can delay and even prevent the need for dialysis.
It is important that you understand why you are prescribed different drugs. Ask your doctor what the drugs he or she prescribes are for, and whether you might experience any side effects.
Don't take any medications bought over the counter without first checking with your doctor or Dialysis center. Many drugs need healthy kidneys to eliminate them properly from the body and are therefore unsuitable for kidney patients.
Prescription drugs for treating kidney disease and its complications
| Drug group | Other names | Use | Links to further information |
| ACE inhibitors | Antihypertensives, Vasodilators, Blood pressure pills | Reduced high blood pressure Help slow progression of diabetic kidney disease Treat heart disease |
Blood pressure |
| Alpha-blockers | Antihypertensives, Vasodilators, Blood pressure pills | Reduce high blood pressure | Blood pressure |
| Antibiotics | Treat infection | Transplantation | |
| Antivirals | Treat viral infections such as herpes, CMV. Reduce risk of viral infection with CMV after transplantation | Transplantation | |
| Antihistamines | Reduce symptoms of itching caused by high levels of phosphate in the body | Phosphates | |
| Beta-Blockers | Antihypertensives, Blood pressure pills | Reduce high blood pressure, Heart disease | Blood pressure |
| Calcium channel blockers | Antihypertensives, Vasodilators, Blood pressure pills | Reduce high blood pressure, Treat heart disease | Blood pressure |
| Diuretics | Water pills | Reduce amount of fluid in body and prevent fluid overload by increasing amount of urine passed | Fluid balance |
| Immunosuppressants | Prevent rejection of transplant, Steroids link to here | Transplantation | |
| Iron pills | Treat iron deficiency (anemia) | Amemia | |
| Laxatives | Prevent constipation | Peritoneal dialysis | |
| Phosphate binders | Prevent build-up of phosphate in body | Renal bone disease | |
| Statin | Lipid lowering, Cholesterol lowering | Help to reduce the levels of cholesterol in the blood | Heart problems |
| Steroids | Anti-inflammmatories | Slow progression or treat certain kidney diseases (eg, nephritis) | |
| Vitamin B | Compensate for vitamin B lost during dialysis | ||
| Vitamin C | Compensate for vitamin C lost during dialysis | ||
| Vitamin D | Provide vitamin D in active form (usually converted by healthy kidneys) | Renal bone disease |
May 1, 2006
