Is Tylenol Good for People with Fever After Dialysis

Q: I have been undergoing dialysis for several months. After the last dialysis treatment, I have high fever and chills. I know Tylenol can help treat high fever. Can I use it? Is Tylenol good for people with fever after dialysis?

A: Dialysis is usually used for kidney failure patients to maintain their basic life, but it may easily cause some complications and fever is just one complication. Normally, three underlying conditions can induce fever for dialysis patients.

1. Cold dialyzate: If the dialyzate is too cold but flow into patients’ body, it is more likely to cause fever.

2. Infections: Dialysis has two common types: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. People on peritoneal dialysis usually have a high incidence than ones on hemodialysis. Once patients suffer from infections, fever and chills may occur easily.

3. Pyrogen reaction: It is another cause of fever for people on dialysis.

Tylenol is one common medicine that can be used as pain relief or fever reducer. However, for people on dialysis, we don’t recommend this medicine. This is because it may cause adverse reaction for the liver and kidney. Dialysis patients commonly have severe kidney damage. Incorrect use of any medication can lead to irreversible condition.

Since fever after dialysis is due to different factors, making an accurate is a guarantee for the following treatment. Then, take medicine with the doctor’s guidance.