What is furosemide? Type of drug: water tablet (loop diuretic) Use: fluid overload states (including CKD and nephrotic syndrome) Dose: 40 mg once a day to 120 mg twice a day, or 250 mg once a day (40 mg once a day is a typical dose) Side-effects: Dehydration – shown by dizziness and low blood pressure […]
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What is doxazosin? Type of drug: alpha-blocker Use: high blood pressure; benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) Dose: 2 mg once a day to 8 mg twice a day Side-effects: feeling weak; headache; ankle swelling Monitor: BP. Alpha-blockers work by reducing arteriolar tone, making them wider (vasodilatation). Other resources CKD drug side-effects CKD patient information (CKD Explained’s 30+
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What is end-stage renal failure (ESRF) or disease (ESRD)? End-stage kidney failure (ESRF) or disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, is also called Stage 5 CKD. This the fifth and final stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. It occurs when the estimated GFR (eGFR) is under 15 ml/min. Courtesy of UKKA At this point, you
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What is focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)? Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is one of the 7 types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN). They are all ‘autoimmune diseases’ where the immune (defence) system attacks normal tissue in the kidney (including the glomerulus). Why and how they occur is unclear. FSGS affects both children and adults. The phrase ‘sclerosis’
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What is haemodialysis (HD)? Keep track of your kidney data with PKB Key Points Haemodialysis (HD) is usually done for 4 hours, three times a week Access to the bloodstream is required for haemodialysis, using either a fistula, graft or line Haemodialysis can be done at your base hospital, satellite unit (near where you live),
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What is an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for dialysis? In this article we will describe what is a fistula (or arteriovenous fistula, AVF) for dialysis. Key points An arteriovenous fistula is formed during an operation The surgeon joins a vein and an artery together in your arm, in preparation for dialysis A fistula enables haemodialysis to take
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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
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What is a urine dipstick test? A urine dipstick test is an example of a ‘screening test’. This means it is relatively non-specific test that looks for groups of diseases – rather than specific diseases themselves. It may give the doctor more information on what further tests are required, even if it cannot make a
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What is a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter? In this article, we will describe what is a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter. A PD catheter is a soft, thin tube (catheter) which is placed through your tummy and into the peritoneum – to enable peritoneal dialysis to happen. It is about 30 cm (12 in) long and
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An ultrasound scan uses ultrasound, or high-frequency sound waves, to create an image (picture) of part of the inside of your body, such as your kidney. It is used in many other branches of medicine to look at other internal organs (like the heart when it is called an echocardiogram, liver, or pelvic organs), or
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