Medicines and your kidneys

DVA’s Veterans' Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services (Veterans’ MATES) latest topic 'Medicines and your kidneys' is now available.

The module will help you to understand:

  • what the kidneys do
  • what you should know about kidney function and medicines
  • how kidney function is checked
  • common medicines that are cleared from the body by the kidneys or that may affect your kidney function
  • factors that can affect kidney function.

Your kidneys play an important role in keeping your body healthy. Their main job is to clear wastes and extra water from the body. They also clear many medicines from the body.

Your kidney function may get lower as you age, or if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. How well your kidneys work affects how well some medicines are cleared from the body. In addition, some medicines can affect your kidneys.

If you take medicines, talk to your GP about whether you need to have a blood test to check your kidney function. If required, your GP can work with you to make any necessary adjustments to your medicines, based on your kidney function, so that you get the most benefit from your medicines.

Meanwhile, you may find the following 2019 topics useful:

Staying healthy at home

When we take care of ourselves we get more out of life. Healthy habits can help you to stay active and independent. Stay in touch with friends and family, keep your brain and body active, eat a healthy diet and have your medicines reviewed.

These tips are for everyone. This includes those living with memory and thinking problems, or those caring for a family member or a friend. The tips can help you or a loved one to live well at home for longer.

Visit the ‘Staying healthy at home module’ on the Veterans’ MATES website.

Sleep well, feel well

Our overall health requires a good night’s sleep – we feel less stressed, are better able to concentrate and remember things, have lower blood pressure and better immunity. An occasional bad night’s sleep isn’t a problem; it happens to us all. When we have trouble sleeping for more than a week or two, it can start to affect our day-to-day life.

There are effective treatments for insomnia and other sleep-related problems, and many veteran-specific supports available to you if you are having trouble sleeping.

You can find the ‘Sleep well’ module on the Veterans’ MATES website.