Kidney Failure Treatment
Learn
- Overview
- What It Is
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Symptoms
- Prognosis
- Living With
- Complications
- User Questions
Take Action
- Screening
- Medications
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Alternative Treatment
- Care Guide
- Questions for Your Doctor
- When to Contact a Doctor
- Find a Doctor
- Resource Guide
How to Treat Kidney Failure
Most chronic kidney diseases are not reversible. But, there are treatments that may be used to help preserve as much kidney function as possible. In the cases of Acute Renal Failure , treatment focuses on the illness or injury that caused the problem.
General Measures
- Restricting fluids
- Doing daily weight checks
- Eating a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet
Medications
Medications used in acute or chronic kidney failure may include:
- Diuretics -to flush out the kidneys, increase urine flow, and rid the body of excess sodium (eg, furosemide , mannitol )
- Blood pressure medications (eg, ACE inhibitors)
- Medicine to treat anemia (eg, epoetin alfa [Epogen, Procrit], ascorbic acid [vitamin C])
- Sodium polystyrene sulfonate or insulin in dextrose-to control high potassium levels
- Calcium acetate -to control high phosphorus levels
Talk to your doctor other medications that your are taking. These include prescribed and over-the-counter medications, as well as herbs and supplements. Since the kidneys are no longer working properly, waste can build up in your body.
Dialysis
Dialysis is a process that takes over for the kidneys and filters waste from the blood. This may be done for short-term, until kidney function improves. Or, it may be done you have a kidney transplant.
Kidney Transplant
This may be the right option for some patients. Having a successful transplant depends on many factors, such as what is causing the kidney damage and your overall health.
Blood Tests
Your doctor will monitor these blood levels:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Phosphate
- Red blood cells
- Hematocrit
- Platelets
Lifestyle Changes
The following are steps to help your kidneys stay healthy longer:
- Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Take medication to control high blood pressure.
- If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar. Ask your doctor for help.
- Avoid the chronic use of pain medications.
- If you have chronic kidney disease, you may need to limit how much protein you eat. Talk to a dietician.
- Limit how much cholesterol and sodium you eat.
- If you have severe kidney disease, limit how much potassium you eat. If your kidneys are failing, get help from a dietician.
If you are diagnosed with kidney failure, follow your doctor's instructions.
