Medication Information Sheets

BCPRA’s Formulary is a list of medications essential in the care and treatment of patients with kidney disease. It has been developed by the Pharmacy & Formulary Review Committee.

The Renal Formulary has been separated into a Dialysis Formulary and a formulary for kidney patients not on dialysis, depending on your condition. The medications listed on the Dialysis Formulary are for dialysis patients (and all pediatric patients). Kidney patients not on dialysis are covered only for those medications listed on the
Formulary for Kidney Patients Not on Dialysis. BCPRA has developed information sheets on different medications for use by patients, listed below.

Also, check out the Ask a Pharmacist page to find a pharmacist who specializes in kidney disease near you. BCPRA partners with a number of community pharmacies to dispense these renal medications.

The information provided on this website is designed to help you understand how the medications you are taking work, possible side effects and precautions. It is not a substitute for talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

Looking for drugs that treat...?
Click on a treatment category to jump to the list of approved medications.

Acidosis		Infections
Anemia		Mineral Metabolism
Cardiovascular Disease		Neuromuscular Disorders
Chelation Therapy		Nutritional Disorders
Gastrointestinal Disorders		Pediatrics
Gout		Pruritus
Hyperkalemia		Chronic Renal Insufficiency/ Predialysis Group

Treatment	Drug Name
ACIDOSIS	sodium bicarbonate
ANEMIA
Iron Bivalent, Oral Preparations	darpepoetin (Aransep) [restricted]*^ erythropoetin (Eprex) [restricted]*^ ferrous fumarate ferrous gluconate ferrous sulfate iron gluconate ^ iron sucrose [restricted]^ iron dextran ^
Vitamin B12	cyanocobalamin ^
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors	captopril quinapril ramipril trandolapril enalapril (restricted to pediatrics)
Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists	candesartan** irbesartan** losartan potassium** telmisartan** valsartan** (**restrictions)
Anticoagulants	ASA (enteric-coated; all strengths) dipyridamole warfarin
Beta-adrenergic Blockers	acebutolol atenolol labetolol metoprolol propranolol bisoprolol
Calcium Channel Blockers	amlodipine diltiazem felodipine nifedipine verapamil
Diuretics	furosemide
Vasodilators	hydralazine minoxidil nitroglycerin patch nitroglycerin sublingual spray and tablets isosorbide dinitrate
CHELATION THERAPY	desferoxamine ^
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
Dopamine Antagonists	prochlorperazine
Histamine (H2) Receptor Antagonist	ranitidine hydrochloride
Osmotic Laxatives	sorbitol lactulose
Stimulate Laxatives	sennosides
Stool Softeners	docusate sodium
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Agents	domperidone maleate metoclopramide
GOUT
Antimitotics	allopurinol colchicine
Corticosteroids	prednisone
HYPERKALEMIA
Exchange Resins	sodium polystyrene sulfonate calcium polystyrene sulfonate
INFECTIONS
Topical Antibacterials	chlorhexidine gentamicin cream and ointment mupirocin cream and ointment
MINERAL METABOLISM	alfacalcidol aluminum hydroxide calcitrol (oral only) calcium acetate calcium carbonate (not Calsan brand) calcium liquid lanthanum***(restricted) sevelamer***(restricted) cinacalcet****(restricted)
NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS
Leg Cramps	quinine
Neuropathic Pain	amitriptyline carbamazepine gabapentin
Restless Leg Syndrome	clonazepam sinemet clonidine hydrochloride
NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS	Replavite/Renavite folate/folic acid zinc gluconate
PEDIATRICS	Note: All formulary medications are available to both dialysis pediatric patients and those not on dialysis. Any compounded formulations of formulary medication or commercially available liquid forms of formulary medication will also be funded.
PRURITUS
Antihistamines	diphenhydramine hydroxyzine
Topical Cream	10% uremol in glaxal base
CHRONIC RENAL INSUFFICIENCY/PREDIALYSIS GROUP	alfacalcidol aluminum hydroxide calcium acetate calcium carbonate (not Calsan brand) calcium polystyrene sulfonate darbepoetin (Aranesp) [restrictred]*^ erythropoetin (Eprex) [restricted]*^ ferrous sulfate, gluconate, & fumarate iron gluconate ^ iron sucrose (restricted)^ iron dextran ^ Replavite lanthanum***(restricted) sevelamer***(restricted) sodium bicarbonate sodium polystyrene sulfonate zinc gluconate

^ Injectable medication
*Needs approval through PROMIS
**Restricted to patients with an intractable cough to ACE inhibitors (as per pharmacare)
***Application for sevelamer required to be completed and send to BC Renal Agency (not for prior approval but for audit purposes)
****Cinacalcet (Sensipar) is very restricted and approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis. Nephrologists may contact the BCPRA office.

return to top of page

---

 

Note: these documents require the free Acrobat Reader.