The itching from chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a real medical condition. The first step toward getting relief is learning more about it.
If you’re living with CKD, you may experience an itch that you can’t escape, day or night. It’s different than a typical itch. That’s because it could be a condition related to your CKD. It’s called chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus (CKD-aP). (Pruritus is a medical term for “itching.”)
What’s in a name?
You and your healthcare team may use a number of terms when discussing your kidney health. Click to see what each one means:
You and your healthcare team may use a number of terms when discussing your kidney health. Tap to see what each one means:
CKD
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which your kidneys are not functioning normally due to a long-term problem.
ESRD
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is when CKD has progressed to a point where your kidneys have lost so much function that hemodialysis is needed.
CKD-aP
Chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is the itching you may experience with CKD or ESRD.
Pruritus
Pruritus means “itching.” With CKD-aP, pruritus can be unrelenting and make you scratch until you bleed. For some people, it can feel like a bee sting or an allergic reaction.
CKD-aP affects different people differently
The itching with CKD-aP can affect different people in different ways. It can come and go. It can be triggered by different things. Some people describe it as feeling like itching beneath the surface of the skin.
You are not alone
CKD-aP impacts up to 65% of people with CKD undergoing hemodialysis in the US.
Up to 33% of those with CKD undergoing dialysis in the US say they are moderately to extremely bothered by itching.
The actual number of people suffering from CKD-aP is difficult to know:
- Doctors may underestimate how many people are suffering from CKD-aP
- People with CKD-aP often don’t talk about their itching with their doctor
KORSUVA can help
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). If you think you have CKD-aP, ask your healthcare team if KORSUVA may be right for you.
Curious about KORSUVA?
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.
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.