Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a condition that can be caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD). It happens when your kidneys cannot filter out waste products the right way. This leads to too much parathyroid hormone in your blood. Cinacalcet (sin-a-KAL-cet) is a medication that lowers the amount of parathyroid hormone in your blood. This will help to balance the amount of calcium and phosphorous in your blood. Sensipar® is the brand name for cinacalcet. This pamphlet explains how to take cinac…
Lanthanum (LAN-tha-num) is a medication used to lower the amount of phosphorus (a mineral that builds strong bones and teeth) in your blood. Lanthanum binds (attaches) to the phosphorus in the foods you eat and stops your body from taking it in. A person with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is less able to remove phosphorus from their body. When there is too much phosphorus in your blood, it pushes calcium out of your bones. This makes your bones weaker. Hemodialysis can remove some of the extra …
One-Alpha® is a medication with the active ingredient alfacalcidol. This is a form of vitamin D. The liver changes alfacalcidol to calcitriol, which is a form of vitamin D that can be used by the body. Alfacalcidol helps your body control your calcium and phosphate levels. Calcium and phosphate are needed to build healthy bones. People get vitamin D from sunlight, and from eating oily fish and milk products. People with kidney disease cannot change enough vitamin D into calcitriol. This can ca…
Many people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have anemia (not enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood). Taking oral irons will give you enough iron to make hemoglobin. The pamphlet explains what oral irons are, how to take and store them, and possible side effects.
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you need to know which over-the-counter medications are your best choices and which you should not take. This pamphlet lists over-the-counter medications you may need for a cough or cold, fever or pain, allergies, an upset stomach (indigestion, burning pain) or heartburn, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) or vomiting (throwing up), diarrhea (loose, watery poop), and constipation, as well as multivitamins, and creams and ointments. Information on why…
Rocaltrol® is a medication with the active ingredient calcitriol. This is a form of vitamin D that can be used by the body. Calcitriol helps your body control your calcium and phosphate levels. Calcium and phosphate are needed to build healthy bones. People get vitamin D from sunlight, and from eating oily fish and milk products. People with kidney disease cannot change enough vitamin D into calcitriol. This can cause low calcium levels in the blood and weaker bones. Rocaltrol raises the amoun…
Sevelamer (se-VEL-a-mer) is a medication that lowers the amount of phosphorus (a mineral that builds strong bones and teeth) in your blood. Sevelamer binds (attaches) to the phosphorus in the foods you eat and stops your body from taking it in. A person with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is less able to remove phosphorus from their body. When there is too much phosphorus in your blood, it pushes calcium out of your bones. This makes your bones weaker. Hemodialysis can remove some of the extra ph…
This pamphlet lists medications to avoid when you are sick while managing chronic kidney disease. The pamphlet includes instructions for what to do if you are throwing up or have diarrhea, what to do if you are diabetic, as well as what to do if you are unsure whether to take a certain medication. It also gives a page for writing a sick day plan.