Here are the basics about each of the medicines below. Only the most common reactions are listed. Ask your doctor if you need to take any special steps. Use each of these drugs as advised by your doctor or the booklet they came with. If you have any questions, call your doctor.
Medicine cannot cure or reverse ESRD. But, it can help slow the progress of the disease. Other medicine can also help control problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or proteins leaking into the urine.
Recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alfa)
This medicine is used to control calcium levels in the blood. This may help delay bone problems.
Some problems are:
Diuretics help the body get rid of fluid buildup.
Some problems are:
Renagel
This controls phosphate levels in the blood that can lead to weaker bones.
Some problems are:
These are used to treat anemia. They help the body make more red blood cells.
Some problems are:
This can be taken to lower the amount of acid in the blood. Taking this can raise your sodium level. A dietitian can help you keep your sodium level in a healthy range when using this.
These will keep phosphate levels in a range that will not increase bone loss.
Some problems are:
When taking any medicine:
Choosing a treatment for kidney failure. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidney-failure/choosing-treatment. Updated January 2018. Accessed July 9, 2019.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd-in-adults. Updated January 18, 2019. Updated July 9, 2019.
Complications of chronic kidney disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/complications-of-chronic-kidney-disease. Updated February 5, 2019. Accessed July 9, 2019.
Murphree DD, Thelen SM. Chronic kidney disease in primary care. J Am Board Fam Med. 2010;23(4):542-550.
O'Connor NR, Corcoran AM. End-stage renal disease: symptom management and advance care planning. Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(7):705-710.
Last reviewed July 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrienne Carmack, MD