A number of prescription drugs can help manage ACKs, including those that help treat diabetes and high blood pressure, two health conditions closely linked to this disease.
Glucose Cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2)
These drugs have been developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but they are also effective in slowing the progression of CKDs.
SGLT2 inhibitors work by helping your kidneys eliminate more sugar and salt from your body through urine. Medicines in this class include:
- Canagliflozin (Inokana)
- Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
- Empagliflozin (jardiance)
Canagliflozine is an option specifically for people with type 2 diabetes and CKD, but dapagliflozine and empagliflozine can both be used by people with CKD who do not have diabetes.
Certain possible side effects include a more frequent urination, low blood pressure and a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR), which is a measure of how your kidneys filter the waste and excess liquid of your blood.
Glucagon type peptide-1 receptors (GLP-1)
Better known as the class of drugs which includes the ozempic weight loss phenomenon (semaglutide), GLP-1 have also been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat people with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. These drugs protect the kidneys against damage by lowering blood sugar.
The other mediations of this class include:
- TIRZEPATIDE (Mounjaro, Zepbound)
- Dulglutide (Trulicity)
- EXTENDATIDE (bydureon)
- Liraglutide (Victoza)
Renine-angiotensin system inhibitors (Rasi)
This is a broader classification of drugs that includes ECA inhibitors and angiotensin II (ARB) blockers. The two drugs can help protect the kidneys, and they are also prescribed for high blood pressure and heart failure.
Joseph A. Vassalotti, MD, chief doctor of the National Kidney Foundation and Clinique Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine of Mount Sinai, says that these drugs are often one of the first drugs prescribed for ACD.
Medicines in the ACE inhibitory class include:
- Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
- Perindopril (Aceon)
- Ramipril (Altace)
Medicines in the ARB class understand:
- Losartan (Cozaar)
- Olmesartan (Benicar)
- Valsartan (Diovan)
The current side effects of ARB and ECA inhibitors include possible blood pressure drops, fatigue and cough, which is more common with ECA than ARB.
Statins
Statins are drugs that lower cholesterol to improve blood circulation and help prevent cardiovascular disease. Some evidence suggest that these drugs can help inflammation and slow down the progression of MCDs.
Statins are considered to be first -line therapy in people with IRC.
Some examples of statins include:
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
- Simvastatin (Zocor)
The possible side effects of statins include digestive problems, mental vagueness and muscle pain.
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