Video Transcript: What are CKD and SHPT, and how can Rayaldee help?

Chronic Kidney Disease, or CKD, is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time, resulting in lasting damage.

It affects approximately 30 million people in the U.S. - that’s 15% of the adult population or, one in seven adults!

As a silent disease, approximately 90% of those with chronic kidney disease don’t even know they have it at the beginning. Once it starts progressing symptoms become noticeable.

CKD advances in five stages, beginning initially with very mild damage and no symptoms in the first two stages.

But in stages three and four the kidneys begin to show damage and aren’t working at full capacity as they should.

And at the final stage the kidneys are close to or at complete failure, requiring either dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Patients in CKD stages 3 and 4 are at risk for, or may already have developed, secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT).

So what is SHPT?

SHPT is a condition caused by changes in the parathyroid glands. These are four glands located in your neck which make sure that your blood has the right amount of calcium. When calcium levels become low, the parathyroid gland secretes a hormone called Parathyroid Hormone or PTH which acts to normalize the calcium levels in the blood.

One function of PTH is to increase the release of calcium and phosphorus from your bones. As kidney disease progresses, the parathyroid glands may make too much PTH, which may remove too much calcium from bones. Over time, this can cause them to become brittle and painful and prone to fractures.

Another issue is that correct levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood are needed by many tissues in the body to function in a healthy way. That's why SHPT is not just about your bones.

Excessive changes in calcium and phosphorus levels can damage your heart, blood vessels and other tissues.

Besides increases in PTH, as kidney disease progresses, production of Active Vitamin D hormone decreases, resulting in low levels of calcium absorption.

As a result, when your kidneys make less active vitamin D hormone, your body has less calcium to use. Because of these and other changes, people with later-stage CKD, SHPT, and low vitamin D levels have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, bone disease and fractures.

Understanding what is happening with your kidneys can be overwhelming.

Your doctor will be able to explain how your kidneys are doing and guide you regarding treatment choices for your particular stage of CKD, SHPT and level of vitamin D insufficiency -

including using Rayaldee!

So, to treat your SHPT, it is recommended that you increase low vitamin D levels to help your parathyroid glands make less PTH. Rayaldee helps your body do both. It is an extended-release prohormone of the active form of vitamin D that works to gradually increase your vitamin D levels as it decreases your PTH levels.

Rayaldee helps increase levels of vitamin D and lower your PTH levels.

Rayaldee works with your body to create the active form of Vitamin D which your body can use.

Before starting Rayaldee, the level of calcium in your blood should be in the normal range (below 9.8 mg/dL). Your doctor can tell you if your calcium level is right for starting Rayaldee.

Just as SHPT is a silent disorder, you may not feel Rayaldee working, but it is important to continue to take your dosage as directed by your doctor.

Take your Rayaldee at bedtime and swallow your capsules whole; do not bite or chew them.

If you miss a dose, take Rayaldee at your next scheduled time. Do not take an extra dose to make up for the dose you missed.

Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms, including feeling tired, having difficulty thinking clearly, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, or any other abnormal symptoms or side effects.

While you are taking Rayaldee, your doctor will order laboratory tests to see how your SHPT is doing. These lab tests will also examine your blood for levels of calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and PTH.

Based on your test results, your dose of Rayaldee may be changed or stopped until your lab results improve.

In clinical trials, Rayaldee was found to be safe and generally well tolerated in most people who took it.

So take a step forward -

to managing SHPT with Rayaldee!

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