Chronic Kidney Disease: Appropriately Using Prescription Drugs

Woman contemplating her Chronic Kidney Disease

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic renal disease, is a condition that affects countless of individuals across the globe. With chronic kidney disease, an individual suffers damage to their kidneys, which compromises the function of these critical organs in the body.

The kidneys are essential for filtering waste in the blood and keeping the body healthy, and when the kidneys are functioning poorly, this can lead to other health complications, such as nerve and blood vessel damage, heart complications, high blood pressure, anemia and more.

Causes of and Treatments for Chronic Kidney Disease

ACE inhibitor for chronic kidney diseaseMany factors can contribute to the development of chronic kidney disease, including other disease states, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Other inherited diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease, and kidney malformations, can also contribute to infection and long-term damage to the kidneys. With simple diagnostic tests, a physician can detect and diagnosis chronic kidney disease, and early detection can be helpful for improving the prognosis and outcome of this condition.

The goal of treatment approaches for chronic kidney disease is to prevent further damage to the kidneys and preserve what function is left. Effective treatment measures include managing any disease states that are causing damage to the kidneys, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Many prescription medications can be a helpful part of managing diseases that are causing kidney damage. For example, a person with chronic kidney disease may be prescribed an angiotensin II receptor block (ARD) or ACE inhibitor, both which are used to help manage high blood pressure.

Working With a Treatment Team

Medical doctor reviewing patients health records on her clipboardChronic kidney disease can be a debilitating condition if left untreated and unmanaged. In order to prevent worsening damage to the kidneys, it is necessary to work closely with your treatment team and follow the therapeutic treatments prescribed.

This may include a combination of medication management, lifestyle and nutritional changes, and weaning off other potentially harmful substances, such as illicit drugs or alcohol. Work closely with your physician to help improve your prognosis.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

If you or a loved one has dealt with chronic kidney disease, what resources were helpful for your treatment?


Crystal Karges photo

About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.


The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of addictions. These are not necessarily the views of Addiction Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

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Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on April 24, 2016
Published on AddictionHope.com

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