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Why is there breathlessness in a CKD stage 5 patient?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My father is a patient of CKD stage 5. He is undergoing dialysis weekly twice. Right now he is having creatinine 9.1, potassium 5.2, and hemoglobin 8.9. Yesterday, he was given two units of blood during dialysis. Despite all that he is having severe breathlessness for these two days. Please, suggest me some medicine. Currently, he is taking tablet Nitrocontin 2.6 mg BD, tablet Cilacar 20 BD, tablet Apresol 25 BD, tablet Folvite BD, tablet Tide 20 BD, tablet Concor Cor 2.5 OD, tablet Ecosprin AV only at night, tablet Sorbitrate SOS, tablet Rivotril 0.5 mg at night, on Insulin Novoropid thrice a day three units each.

Answered by Dr. Gabriel Matias

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Gabriel Matias is a General Practitioner and Family Physician currently doing his Master's in clinical reasoning. His main areas of expertise are Family medicine, Internal medicine, and Emergency medicine. Because of his experience in general practice, he also provides medical care in pediatrics, Obstetrics and gynecology, and general surgery. He has worked in high-volume academic tertiary centers, done observerships in the USA, and also been the primary provider of poor rural communities with little access to medical care in challenging conditions. He has seven years of clinical experience and is comfortable working with any leading physician or working jointly with specialists to help patients get specialized care.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your father's potassium and creatinine levels are high. The breathlessness may be because of pulmonary edema. There is no specific medicine for these cases, as the best treatment is dialysis. Consider talking to your nephrologist to do the dialysis more frequently, since it seems to not be enough just twice weekly.

For more information consult a nephrologist online

Medically reviewed by Dr. K. Shobana
Published At August 11, 2018
Reviewed At April 30, 2025

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Gabriel Matias is a General Practitioner and Family Physician currently doing his Master's in clinical reasoning. His main areas of expertise are Family medicine, Internal medicine, and Emergency medicine. Because of his experience in general practice, he also provides medical care in pediatrics, Obstetrics and gynecology, and general surgery. He has worked in high-volume academic tertiary centers, done observerships in the USA, and also been the primary provider of poor rural communities with little access to medical care in challenging conditions. He has seven years of clinical experience and is comfortable working with any leading physician or working jointly with specialists to help patients get specialized care.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. K. Shobana is a Dental Surgeon specializing in oral health and dental care. She is skilled in preventive dentistry and provides oral hygiene education. She can do restorative treatments such as fillings and crowns. She can handle periodontal problems such as gum diseases and periodontitis. She can do root canal treatment.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Gabriel Matias is a General Practitioner and Family Physician currently doing his Master's in clinical reasoning. His main areas of expertise are Family medicine, Internal medicine, and Emergency medicine. Because of his experience in general practice, he also provides medical care in pediatrics, Obstetrics and gynecology, and general surgery. He has worked in high-volume academic tertiary centers, done observerships in the USA, and also been the primary provider of poor rural communities with little access to medical care in challenging conditions. He has seven years of clinical experience and is comfortable working with any leading physician or working jointly with specialists to help patients get specialized care.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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