dailysis meds help

[jerzie0820]

Hi. we all know the medications we give in HD tx. also i definitely know what they're for. but i'd like to be able to explain to patients in detailed what they're really for. for some they get contented with, "epogen is to help maintain your red blood cell count within normal range and also to prevent anemia. zemplar is for your bones to help keep them strong, venofer is your iron to help with your iron deficiency anemia." but some patients ask in detailed. can u please help??? like they would go, "but whats the connection of my diabetes/ HPN with my bones?? and why do i have iron deficiency anemia?":confused:

so yeah i need help with a thorough explanation on these drugs: epogen, zemplar, venofer, carnitor

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

With regards to epogen, tell them that one of the things the kidney does is tell the body to make red blood cells. Since your kidneys don't work your body can't make red blood ceels anymore and that is why you're anemic. If we let that go on in about four months you wouldn't have any more blood cells at all. In the past they gave patients transfusions all the time. Now we have epogen which is a hormone

that tells the body to make red blood cells.

We give zemplar to supress the parathyroid gland. Because your body can't get rid of phosphorus its always high. When it gets to high it

triggers the parathyroid to take calcium out of your bones. Not only

will it make your bones weak but it can cause calcium to build up on

your heart valves and joints. That's also why you have to take Renagel to keep your phosphorus down.

Hope that helps.

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

With regards to epogen, tell them that one of the things the kidney does is tell the body to make red blood cells. Since your kidneys don't work your body can't make red blood ceels anymore and that is why you're anemic. If we let that go on in about four months you wouldn't have any more blood cells at all. In the past they gave patients transfusions all the time. Now we have epogen which is a hormone that tells the body to make red blood cells.

We give zemplar to supress the parathyroid gland. Because your body can't get rid of phosphorus its always high. When it gets to high it triggers the parathyroid to take calcium out of your bones. Not only will it make your bones weak but it can cause calcium to build up on

your heart valves and joints. That's also why you have to take Renagel to keep your phosphorus down.

Hope that helps.

[armynurse,rn]

I usually add that although we try to return all their rbc's on rinse back, they loose some in the lines/system. If you do this every treatment 3x wk, one is bound to become a lil anemic. I also explain that iron and epo kind of go hand in hand. If Epo helps produce/ improve HGB or oxygenation, you need iron as the vehicle that the hgb attaches to get distributed throughout the body.