There's no medicine specifically for CKD, but medication can help control many of the problems that cause the condition and complications that can occur as a result of it.
You may need to take medication to treat or prevent:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Water retention
Anaemia
Bone problems
Glomerulonephritis
High blood pressure
Good control of blood pressure is vital to protect the kidneys.
People with kidney disease should usually aim to get their blood pressure down to below 140/90mmHg, but you should aim to get it down to below 130/80mmHg if you also have diabetes.
There are many types of blood pressure medication, but medicines called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are often used. Examples include ramipril, enalapril and lisinopril.
Side effects of ACE inhibitors can include:
If the side effects of ACE inhibitors are particularly troublesome, you can be given a medication called an angiotensin-II receptor blocker (ARB) instead.
Read more about how high blood pressure is treated.
High cholesterol
People with CKD have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.
This is because some of the causes of kidney disease are the same as those for cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
You may be prescribed medication called statins to reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Examples include atorvastatin, fluvastatin and simvastatin.
Side effects of statins can include:
Read more about how high cholesterol is treated.
Water retention
You may experience swelling in your ankles, feet and hands if you have kidney disease.
This is because your kidneys aren't as effective at removing fluid from your blood, causing it to build up in the body tissues (oedema).
You may be advised to reduce your daily salt and fluid intake, including fluids in food like soups and yoghurts, to help relieve the swelling.
In some cases you may also be given water tablets (diuretics) to take, such as furosemide.
Side effects of diuretics can include dehydration and reduced levels of sodium and potassium in the blood.
Anaemia
Many people with later-stage kidney disease develop anaemia, which is a lack of red blood cells.
Symptoms of anaemia include:
If you experience anaemia, you may be given injections of a medication called erythropoietin. This is a hormone that helps your body produce more red blood cells.
If you have an iron deficiency as well, iron supplements may also be recommended.
Read more about how iron deficiency anaemia is treated.
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Bone problems
If your kidneys are severely damaged, you can get a build-up of phosphate in your body because your kidneys cannot get rid of it.
Along with calcium, phosphate is important for maintaining healthy bones. But if your phosphate level rises too much, it can upset the balance of calcium in your body and lead to thinning of the bones.
You may be advised to limit the amount of high-phosphate food in your diet, such as red meat, dairy products, eggs and fish.
If this doesn't lower your phosphate level enough, you may be given medicines called phosphate binders. Commonly used medicines include calcium acetate and calcium carbonate.
Some people with kidney disease also have low levels of vitamin D, which is necessary for healthy bones, too.
If you're low in vitamin D, you may be given a supplement called colecalciferol or ergocalciferol to boost your vitamin D level.
Glomerulonephritis
Kidney disease can be caused by inflammation of the filters inside the kidneys, known as glomerulonephritis.
In some cases this occurs as a result of the immune system mistakenly attacking the kidneys.
If a kidney biopsy finds that this is the cause of your kidney problems, you may be prescribed medicine to reduce the activity of your immune system, such as steroid medication or a medication called cyclophosphamide.
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