Appetite Stimulants for Treatment of Protein Energy Wasting of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Anne Marie Liles, Anastasia B Jenkins, Hayden Hendrix, Emily Johnson, Hillary Rowe, Katie S McClendon

Journal: Nephrology nursing journal : journal of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association 2021;48(3):267-273

PMID: 34286938

Abstract

Nutritional and metabolic abnormalities, or protein energy wasting, is a common complication of chronic kidney disease, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The cause of these abnormalities is multifactorial, and therefore, difficult to treat. The International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism suggests appetite stimulants, including megestrol, dronabinol, mirtazapine, and cyproheptadine, as adjunctive treatment options in addition to parenteral or oral nutritional supplementation. This article reviews the evidence for use of these drugs as appetite stimulants and discusses their use in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Copyright© by the American Nephrology Nurses Association.

Address: was a Clinical Associate Professor, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University, MS, at the time of writing. She is now deceased.; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University, MS; and Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, Oxford, MS.; Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR.; Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Safety Drugs, Phoenix, AZ.; Pharmacy Manager, Walmart Corporation.; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Jackson, MS.

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