CKD medication

What is calcium acetate? Type of drug: phosphate binder Use: hyperphosphataemia (high phosphate level) Dose: 475-950 mg (Renacet) two to three times a day with food Side-effects: constipation/diarrhoea; hypercalcaemia (high calcium level) – that you will not normally notice Monitor: phosphate and calcium levels. Note 1 . Two preparations: Phosex® and Renacet® tablets (different dosages) […]

What is bisoprolol? Type of drug: beta-blocker Use: hypertension (high blood pressure), atrial fibrillation Dose: 2.5-10 mg once a day Side-effects: bradycardia (low pulse rate); cold fingers and toes Monitor: pulse rate (works by slowing the heart). Note 1. Other beta-blockers include Atenolol and Carvedilol Note 2. Do NOT use with Diltiazem or Verapamil –

What is bendroflumethiazide? Type of drug: thiazide diuretic Use: fluid overload states (including CKD and nephrotic syndrome); hypertension Dose: 2.5-10 mg once a day (5 mg is the standard dose) Side-effects: Dehydration – shown by dizziness and low blood pressure Hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia and hypercalcaemia (low sodium and potassium levels; high calcium level) – that you

What is azathioprine (‘aza’)? Type of drug: purine synthesis blocker (antimetabolite) Use: immunosuppressant after kidney transplant; other autoimmune disease Dose: 25-150 mg once a day (1-2 mg/kg) Side-effects: gastrointestinal disorders; liver dysfunction; bone marrow suppression (causing low haemoglobin, white cells and platelets) Monitor: FBC and liver enzymes. Note 1. It is an alternative drug to

What is atorvastatin? Type of drug: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, or ‘statin’ Use: hyperlipidaemia (cholesterol too high) Dose: 10-80 mg once a day Side-effects: joint and muscle pain (myositis); acute kidney injury (AKI) due to rhabdomyolysis Monitor: cholesterol. Note 1. Other statins include Simvastatin. Note 2. If muscle pain or weakness, occur during treatment, a blood test

What is amlodipine? Type of drug: BP tablet (calcium channel blocker) Use: high blood pressure Dose: 5-10 mg once a day Side-effects: ankle swelling, dizziness (postural hypotension) Monitor: BP. Note. Do not use in aortic stenosis (and cautiously in stable chronic heart failure, CHF) How BP tablets work – amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker

What is alfacalcidol? Type of drug: synthetic form of Vitamin D Use: renal bone disease Dose: 0.25-1.0 mcg once a day (0.25 mcg is the usual starting dose) Side-effects: abdominal pain; headache; hypercalcaemia (high calcium level) – that you will not normally notice Monitor: calcium. Note. Other forms of vitamin D include Calcitriol, Doxercalciferol and

What is allopurinol? Type of drug: xanthine oxidase inhibitor (reduces production of uric acid in the body) Use: gout prevention Dose: 300 mg once a day (100 mg in CKD) Side-effects: rash; bone marrow suppression (low haemoglobin, white cells and platelets) Monitor: FBC. Note 1: start between attacks of gout. Other treatments (such as NSAIDs

Are you getting side-effects from your drugs for CKD? On this page we will describe common side-effects of drugs used in CKD patients, and you can see if your symptoms make be linked The drugs are in alphabetical order. Alfacalcidol (vitamin D) Abdominal pain; headache; hypercalcaemia (high calcium level) – that you will not normally

10 top tips for good prescribing Here are 10 top tips for good prescribing. 1. Be clear about the reasons for prescribing Establish an accurate diagnosis wherever possible – but not all diagnoses need treatment Don’t just prescribe because the patient asks for it, or you need to ‘do something’. 2. Benefit-harm analysis Be clear