Patient's question:
What medications are available for treating kidney stones? I have kidney stones and don't know which medications would be most helpful for me.Doctor's answer:
According to the size of the stone, it is better to be treated in the hospital. Taking various stone-expelling powders or decoctions of traditional Chinese medicine is more convenient, but regular follow-up is necessary. The indications are stones with a diameter less than 0.5 to 0.8 cm, no significant kidney hydronephrosis, and no ureteral stenosis, which are easier to expel. Stones close to 1 cm are generally more difficult to expel.Medication dissolves stones. For pure uric acid stones, sodium bicarbonate or alkaline solutions can be used, along with a diet low in high purine foods, maintaining a urine pH of 6.5 to 7.0, and drinking a large amount of water daily (more than 3000 ml). Alternatively, a 1.5% sodium bicarbonate solution can be flushed through a nephrostomy tube. If dietary control of high blood uric acid cannot be achieved, allopurinol (0.1 to 0.2 g) can be taken orally three times a day. Taking it for about half a year can dissolve uric acid stones by inhibiting the oxidative enzymes in purine metabolism and reducing uric acid production. The advantage of this drug is that it has no adverse reactions. The treatment method for xanthine kidney stones is the same.