A complete guide to the precautions for patients with chronic kidney disease when taking home medication! Save it now

Patients with chronic kidney disease need to take medications long-term to control their condition and slow down the progression of the disease. When taking medications at home, there are many things to keep in mind to ensure safe use and treatment effectiveness. Here are some key points:

Strictly follow the doctor's instructions for medication

- The drug treatment plan for patients with chronic kidney disease is formulated by doctors based on the patient's specific condition, such as renal function level, proteinuria level, blood pressure, etc. Patients must strictly follow the doctor's instructions to take the medicine on time and in the prescribed amount, and must not increase or decrease the dosage or stop taking the medicine on their own. For example, antihypertensive drugs need to be taken regularly to maintain stable blood pressure and reduce damage to the kidneys; the use of immunosuppressants must strictly follow the doctor's instructions, and arbitrarily adjusting the dosage may cause the disease to relapse or worsen.

Understanding medication side effects

- All drugs may have side effects, and drugs used by patients with chronic kidney disease are no exception. Patients should ask their doctors or pharmacists about possible adverse reactions to the drugs they take so that they can be discovered and treated in time during medication. For example, the use of glucocorticoids may cause problems such as increased blood sugar and osteoporosis. Patients need to monitor blood sugar and bone density regularly and take corresponding preventive measures when necessary; taking diuretics may cause electrolyte disorders. Pay attention to observe whether there are symptoms such as fatigue and palpitations, and check electrolyte levels regularly.

Watch out for drug interactions

- Chronic kidney disease patients often need to take multiple drugs at the same time, and these drugs may interact with each other, affecting the efficacy of the drugs or increasing the risk of adverse reactions. Therefore, when seeking medical treatment, patients should inform their doctors of all the drugs they are taking, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, health products, etc. The doctor will make adjustments based on the specific situation to avoid drug interactions. For example, the combination of some antibiotics and immunosuppressants may increase the risk of infection and need to be used with caution; and taking some Chinese medicines and Western medicines together may affect the metabolism and excretion of the drugs, which also requires special attention.

The correct way to take medicine

- Different drugs have different ways of taking them, and patients should strictly follow the instructions or the doctor's instructions. Some drugs need to be taken on an empty stomach to improve the absorption rate of the drug, such as some antihypertensive drugs; while some drugs need to be taken after meals to reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, when taking capsules or tablets, take them with enough water to avoid the drug staying in the esophagus and causing esophageal damage. For some drugs that require special storage, such as biological agents that need to be refrigerated, patients must keep them properly according to the requirements to ensure the effectiveness of the drugs.

Observe your body's reactions

- During medication, patients should closely observe their own physical reactions, such as rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other discomfort symptoms, as well as changes in urine volume, urine color, edema, etc. If abnormalities occur, they should contact the doctor in time so that the doctor can determine whether it is an adverse reaction to the drug or a change in the condition itself, and adjust the treatment plan in time. For example, after taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) drugs, dry cough may occur as a side effect. If the cough seriously affects the quality of life, it is necessary to consider changing the drug.

Regular review

- Patients with chronic kidney disease need to go to the hospital for regular checkups to monitor renal function, blood routine, urine routine and other indicators to evaluate the efficacy and safety of drugs. Doctors will adjust drug treatment plans based on the results of the checkups. Patients should not ignore checkups just because their symptoms have improved. Regular checkups are an important means of timely identifying problems and adjusting treatments, and are crucial to delaying the progression of kidney disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease need to be extra careful and cautious when taking medication at home. Only by strictly following the precautions for medication can they effectively control the disease while minimizing the adverse reactions of the drug, improving the quality of life, and delaying the development of kidney disease.