The healthy human body has two kidneys. These bean-shaped organs are located in the retro-peritoneal area, behind the peritoneum, in the upper abdomen. The right kidney is usually lower than the left due to the large heavy liver being located just above it. The healthy kidneys have several important physiologic functions. These include regulation of fluid volume, waste-product removal, electrolyte balance and hormone release and regulation. There are drugs that can help with these functions when your kidneys can't perform them.
Diuretics
Diuretics are a class of drugs that elevate the rate of urination and thus provide a means of forced diuresis, or increased urine production. There are three classes of diuretic drugs. Each class works a little differently, but they all lower the amount of salt and water in your body, therefore helping to regulate fluid volume when the normally healthy kidney cannot.
Thiazide Diuretics
Members of this class of diuretics are derived from benzothiadiazine and are referred to as potassium-depleting diuretics. These drugs are commonly used to treat high blood pressure by reducing the amount of sodium and water in your body. Commonly used thiazide diuretics include Diuril, or chlorothiazide.
Potassium-Sparing Diuretics
This class of diuretics prevents your body from releasing excess potassium in the urine. Aldactone, brand name for spironolactone, is a common medication in this class.
Loop-Acting Diuretics
In this class of diuretics, the drug acts on the ascending loop of henle in the kidney, causing your kidneys to increase the flow of urine, thus increasing the release of excess fluid from your body. A common medication in this class is Lasix, or furosemide.
PhosLo (Calcium Acetate)
PhosLo, or calcium acetate, consists of the mineral calcium acetate. When given orally as a phosphate binder, it is used in patients with end stage renal disease. This drug helps to balance the electrolyte imbalance of phosphate in the blood by preventing your blood phosphorus levels from increasing when you eat foods high in phosphorous.
Erythropoietin (rhEPO)
Erythropoietin, or rhEPO, is the exogenous--outside the body--derivative of the hormone erythropoietin. Doctors administer this drug to stimulate the production of new red blood cells and to treat chronic anemia if you have kidney failure.
Tekturna (Aliskiren)
Tekturna, or aliskiren, targets the hormone renin in the bloodstream. Doctors administer this drig alone or in combination with other drugs to control high blood pressure by preventing your kidney’s natural release of the hormone renin, which can cause a rise in blood pressure.
