renal vitamins

[Marley]

Hi everyone

Where can I get this renal vitamin for my hubby??  Does he need a perscription for it or is it OTC??  I am ashamed that I haven't gotten him any after all this time, but I so much want him to feel better and that outweighs my shame.  We are on a fixed income so I would appreciate anyone with this info please let me know where I can get them, how much and if we need a perscription.
Thanks in advance

Marley
PS:  I love this site!!  I've only joined about a week ago and I think this is my 3rd post....?.....  There is so much love and support in this group and I'm so glad I am welcome!!  If only I could get hubby to get on here!!  He steers clear of anything converning dialysis and I've tried telling him about the boards, but it just isn't in him to get on line---he prefers the solitare--go figure!!   

[mikey07840]

Marley, I take Renax vitamins that are prescription. Ask your nephrologist for samples or if there is an over the counter vitamin that she/he can recommend.

Good Luck

[MyssAnne]

Marley, I take vitamins for pregnant ladies (go figure!!)  I do know if you check out Kroger/WalMart, whomever else does the 4 dollar scrips, there are vitamins on those lists. Try that, then talk to your neph about getting one of those, or even see if you can get free scrips through the company. 

[KR Cincy]

www.dialyvite.net

They are reasonably priced, with a variety of formulas. Check with your neph or dietitcian to determine which one will do you the most good

[flip]

I take the dialyvite too. They are Rx because of the extra folic acid.

[2_DallasCowboys]

Marley,

I hope you have good  luck in finding your vitamins for you
hubby- I just would like to remind you to please be careful
when giving any vitamins, there are so many that are OTC
that can be very, very bad for renal patients.
If  you are going to do OTC please check with your neph first.

Anne and Les

PS  My hubby is taking Diatxzn a renal vitamin prescribed by his
neph.  They cost apprx. $26 for a month's supply and are suposed
to be one of the best renal vitamins around.

[Sunny]

I take Rena-Vite by prescription from my renal doctor. When I read the contents it consists mostly of B-complex vitamins. It's not covered by my insurance
but I was mildly surprised it cost only $10 for one month supply. I have tried many over-the-counter brands but none of them were right, so my doctor
Finlay wrote a prescription. The prescription ended up being cheaper.

[twirl]

I have a perscription for renal - vite and it does not cost much.
I think it is cheaper than buying anything over the counter.
glad you like IHD
we are here
and we can help

[del]

Vitamins are provided free of charge to dialysis patients here.

[flip]

My Dialyvite has a $10 co-pay. No telling what it would cost without insurance.

[cris]

I do't know if you have Nephrosteril in U.S. This is an I.V. vitamin that my Mom gets every other dialysis. This makes her feel great.

[Marley]

Renavite, nephrosteril, diatxzn, renax, oh my!!!!

Thanks a million guys!!  With all your wonderful info, I'm going to bypass all the OTC's and go straight to hubby's neph, taking no chances!!  I'm so hoping they will get him feeling better.  Do you guys remember being told that once you started dialysis that you would begin to feel better??  My man has never gotten to that point and this October will be 3 years on hemo.  I am SO hoping the vitamins are going to help.  It seems like his quality of life sucks and I would do anything to make it better!!

Marley   

[angellady07]

I take prescription nephro-vite.

[Gramapat]

My nutritionist told me to get Renal Tab II from https://www.renalabs.com/index.php .

[KR Cincy]

Dialyvite is great...no Rx needed, my version is 10.80 a bottle, they ship 'em right to you...just ask your neph or dietician which version is best for you (I do the 800 + zinc)

[stauffenberg]

The problem with most vitamin preparations for renal patients is that the dosage levels are based on what has been determined to be the dose required to prevent the corresponding vitamin deficiency disease, which is a very tiny amount compared to what is available  in most commercial supplements.  This tiny amount required to prevent vitamin deficiency diseases is not sufficient to provide any of the health ENHANCING rather than health PRESERVING benefits from higher levels of vitamins. 

While one way around this is for the patient to buy his own supplements and avoid the special renal vitamin preparations, this has to be done cautiously, since without functioning kidneys it is much easier to get an overdose of any substance taken.  The rule of thumb is that the overdose level for renal patients is cut in half from that for normal patients, but even this varies for different vitamins.  Generally, the water soluble vitamins are less likely to produce an overdose than the fat soluble ones.

Another problem is that some supplements can be positively dangerous for renal patients, such as potassium or phosphorous.  The bottom line is that you either have to learn a lot about safe renal dosing of vitamins to get the benefits of the larger doses which can make you feel and function better, or you have to settle for the miniscule amounts of vitamins in standard renal vitamin preparations, which can only prevent you from feeling worse from vitamin deficiency conditions.

[pelagia]

Just happened to notice today that my local Walgreens has Rena-Vite at $12 for a 90 day supply if you are a member of their presciption savings club ($20/year/individual or $35/year/family).  They also offer blood pressure meds, as well as lovastatin and pravastatin.  You can see the list on their website (walgreens.com) if you use internet explorer.