Understanding CKD treatments

The right treatment for you will depend on your stage of CKD, your overall health, and any other conditions you may have, like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.

What are the goals of treatment?

Treatments for CKD aim to:

• Slow the progression of the disease
• Control blood pressure and other risk factors
• Reduce the chance of heart problems and other complications
• Manage symptoms as they arise
• Help you stay well for as long as possible

Medicines for CKD

Many people with CKD take medicines to manage different parts of their health. You might be prescribed:

• Blood pressure medicines: especially ACE inhibitors or ARBs, which help protect your kidneys as well as control blood pressure
• Statins: to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
• SGLT2 inhibitors: if you have type 2 diabetes or a high level of protein in your urine
• Medicines for diabetes or cholesterol: if you also live with these conditions
• Iron supplements or treatments for anaemia: if your red blood cell levels are low
• Medicines to help with bone health in later stages

Your doctor will regularly review your medicines to make sure they’re working for you.

Treatments in later stages

If your kidneys continue to decline, you may need to think about further treatment. This usually applies to people with Stage 4 or 5 CKD. Only a small percentage of people with CKD progress to these stages.

Your healthcare team may talk to you about:

• Advanced care planning: to discuss future treatments and what matters most to you
• Preparing for kidney replacement treatment: such as dialysis or a transplant, if needed

It’s important to remember that these decisions don’t happen overnight. Your team will support you step by step and help you understand your options.

Can lifestyle changes help?

Alongside any medicine, healthy habits can make a big difference to the management of CKD:

• Managing blood pressure and blood sugar
• Eating a kidney-friendly diet (low in salt and processed foods)
• Keeping active
• Stopping smoking
• Staying up to date with check-ups and test results

Together, these changes can help you feel better, stay healthier, and reduce the chance of complications.