Dialysis Side Effects

It's important to remember that without dialysis, many patients' only hope is a transplant. The risks associated with refusing dialysis are much worse than those due to dialysis. There are some side effects of dialysis.

Low blood pressure

Low blood pressure is the most common side effect of dialysis, affecting one out of four patients at some point over the course of dialysis treatments. The two primary causes are gaining excess fluid weight between sessions and having a weak heart. In order to avoid excess fluid weight gain you should maintain a healthy fluid level by drinking no more than a quarter of liquid in excess of what is discharged from the body daily and avoid salty foods which increase thirst.

Muscle cramps

Patients sometimes experience muscle cramps while undergoing hemodialysis. These muscle cramps, usually in the legs, can be uncomfortable or sometimes painful. The exact cause of muscle cramps can vary from patient to patient. Sometimes when fluid is taken out of the body at a fast rate during dialysis or too much fluid is removed, the muscles react by cramping. A patient should alert a healthcare team member as soon as a cramp happens to get help in alleviating the discomfort.

Anemia


The red blood cell volume in dialysis patients is often lower than normal. This is due to reduced levels of the hormone erythropoietin, which is produced by the kidneys and regulates red blood cell production. Medication to treat the anemia is commonly used by dialysis patients. See the Anemia section in the main menu for more information.