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Pruritus—the medical term for itching—is an unpleasant skin sensation that leads to scratching. It can be associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Chronic pruritus can affect people in many ways beyond the serious itching:

  • Serious skin irritation/bleeding from scratching
  • Feeling embarrassed about your itching
  • Trouble sleeping at night
  • Tiredness during the day
  • Feeling isolated or depressed

Chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is the itching you may experience with CKD or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

The actual number of people suffering from CKD-aP is difficult to know. For one thing, doctors may underestimate and underreport how many people are suffering from CKD-aP. Also, people with CKD-aP often don’t talk about their itching with their doctor. Best estimates are that CKD-aP impacts up to 65% of people with CKD undergoing dialysis in the US. Up to 33% of those with CKD-aP undergoing dialysis in the US say they are moderately to extremely bothered by itching.

CKD-aP can be difficult to diagnose. In fact, there is no specific test for CKD-aP, so doctors often diagnose it by ruling out other possible conditions. So, it’s important that you let your healthcare team know how bad your itching is—that can be key to diagnosis.

If you are diagnosed, the good news is that there is now a treatment available! KORSUVA received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA and is the first and only FDA-approved treatment specifically designed to take on the itch for adult hemodialysis patients suffering from moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus (CKD-aP).

KORSUVA is the first and only FDA-approved treatment specifically designed to take on the itch for adult hemodialysis patients suffering from moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus (CKD-aP).

KORSUVA is given as an injection into your IV line at the end of each dialysis treatment.

KORSUVA was generally well tolerated in clinical trials involving over 1300 patients. The side effects reported most frequently by people receiving KORSUVA were diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, trouble walking (including falls), high potassium, headache, sleepiness, and mental status change (including confusional state). Learn more about KORSUVA safety and side effects here.

It may seem like your CKD-aP is worse when you’re undergoing dialysis. But that doesn’t mean you should stop your dialysis or go less often. In fact:

  • People missing dialysis have higher rates of infection from bacteria and a decline in general health.
  • Missing 1 or more dialysis treatments in a 4-month period can lead to hospitalization—and possibly even death.
WHAT IS KORSUVA?

KORSUVA is a prescription medicine used to treat moderate-to-severe pruritus (itching) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD-aP) in adults undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

KORSUVA is not recommended in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (fluid taken from abdomen).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What are the possible side effects of KORSUVA?

KORSUVA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Dizziness, sleepiness, mental status changes (e.g., confusion), and trouble walking (which may lead to falls). Sleepiness is more likely to occur in patients who are 65 years or older. Taking KORSUVA with centrally acting depressant medications (including anti-depressants and medicines used for anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia), sedating antihistamines (allergy medicines that can cause drowsiness), and opioid analgesics (certain pain medications) may increase the likelihood of these side effects.
  • Impairment of mental or physical abilities. You should not drive or operate dangerous machinery until the effect of KORSUVA on your ability to drive or operate machinery is known. The most common side effects of KORSUVA include: diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, trouble walking (including falls), high potassium, headache, sleepiness, and mental status changes (e.g., confusion).
What should I tell my doctor before taking KORSUVA?

Before you take KORSUVA, tell your doctor if you:

  • are currently taking centrally acting depressant medications (including anti-depressants and medicines used for anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia), sedating antihistamines (allergy medicines that can cause drowsiness) or opioid analgesics (certain pain medications)
  • regularly drive or operate dangerous machinery

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. In pre-clinical studies, KORSUVA was shown to be transferable into breastmilk.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of KORSUVA. You may report side effects to Vifor (International) Inc. at
1-844-835-8277 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

The risk information provided here is not comprehensive and does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment. To learn more about KORSUVA, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information.

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WHAT IS KORSUVA?

KORSUVA is a prescription medicine used to treat moderate-to-severe pruritus (itching) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD-aP) in adults undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

KORSUVA is not recommended in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (fluid taken from abdomen).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What are the possible side effects of KORSUVA?

KORSUVA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Dizziness, sleepiness, mental status changes (e.g., confusion), and trouble walking (which may lead to falls). Sleepiness is more likely to occur in patients who are 65 years or older. Taking KORSUVA with centrally acting depressant medications (including anti-depressants and medicines used for anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia), sedating antihistamines (allergy medicines that can cause drowsiness), and opioid analgesics (certain pain medications) may increase the likelihood of these side effects.
  • Impairment of mental or physical abilities. You should not drive or operate dangerous machinery until the effect of KORSUVA on your ability to drive or operate machinery is known. The most common side effects of KORSUVA include: diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, trouble walking (including falls), high potassium, headache, sleepiness, and mental status changes (e.g., confusion).
What should I tell my doctor before taking KORSUVA?

Before you take KORSUVA, tell your doctor if you:

  • are currently taking centrally acting depressant medications (including anti-depressants and medicines used for anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia), sedating antihistamines (allergy medicines that can cause drowsiness) or opioid analgesics (certain pain medications)
  • regularly drive or operate dangerous machinery

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. In pre-clinical studies, KORSUVA was shown to be transferable into breastmilk.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of KORSUVA. You may report side effects to Vifor (International) Inc. at 1-844-835-8277 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

The risk information provided here is not comprehensive and does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment. To learn more about KORSUVA, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information.