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Old 04-03-2012, 06:04 PM  
Hamtastic
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Location: U.S.A.
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Default Re: Chronic Kidney Disease / Chronic Renal Failure: diagnosis, "treatment" options

Medications - going beyond simple measures (still a topic for further research)

• FAMOTIDINE:

CKD causes retention of the hormone gastrin. This causes a stimulation of and an elevation of hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach. The excess HCl causes the patient to not want to eat as well. It also can cause stomach irritation and even ulcers. To combat all this, administer 1.0mg of generic famotidine tablets (in the U.S. a popular brand name for famotidine is Pepsid-AC--antacid tablets, though any generic version is just as good!) This is a 10mg tablet and must be crushed and divided to get 1/10 of a tablet. Administer this orally once daily. (For example, mix the powder into a serving of soup). Famotidine does not require a prescription.

• HYPERPHOSPHATEMIA:

If the serum level of phosphorus can be determined to be elevated (blood sample must be analyzed), aluminum hydroxide can be administered orally. Alternagel is one such brand of this antacid. The AlOH binds the phosphorus within the intestine and it is eliminated in the stools. The dose for a 30 gram hamster is about 0.1ml orally three time daily until the phosphorus level is in the normal range.

• The Future (to be carefully researched for proper dosing):

Approximately 67% of humans and cats who have CKD eventually develop high blood pressure (hypertension). If the blood pressure of a small rodent could be measured, blood pressure reducing medications such as amlodipine could be titrated to this species.

Another large percentage of humans and animals with CKD develop a PLN -- protein losing nephropathy. These patients benefit from ACE inhibitors such as enalapril or benezepril. The problem is assessing which patients have PLN and how to dose these medications.

Calcitriol: this is the active form of vitamin D which is no longer synthesized by the damaged kidneys. Cats who take Calcitriol (blood creatinine > 2.0 and blood phosphorus < 6.0) statistically live three times longer than similar CKD cats who do not take Calcitriol.

Procrit or Epogen: CKD patients also fail to produce the hormone ESF (erythropoietin stimulating factor). This hormone stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. CKD victims eventually become anemic. In cats when the Hct drops below 20, Procrit or Epogen injectable is initiated. This allows the cat to rebuild RBCs and overcome this anemia of CKD. Small rodents could certainly benefit from this product. The Hct would have to be measured and a protocol for these drugs would have to be developed.
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Last edited by souffle; 04-04-2012 at 02:04 PM.
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