What are the treatments for a kidney stone?
Kidney stones are hard deposits of mineral and acid salts (crystals) within the kidney. According to the Mayo Clinic, they are often cased by concentrated urine. Several different treatments are available, depending on the specific stone.Home CareA person with a kidney stone should drink large amounts of water (six to eight glasses) in order to produce a high volume of urine, according to Medline Plus and the Mayo Clinic. When a small kidney stone passes, Medline Plus reports that it should be saved and brought to a doctor for testing.Pain ReliefKidney stones can be painful. Over-the-counter pain relievers may help some, while other people may require prescription-strength narcotic painkillers, according to Medline Plus.MedicationsMedications may help break down kidney stones. These include, according to Medline Plus, allopurinol for stones made of uric acid, antibiotics for stones made of struvite, diuretics (“water” pills), phosphate, sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate.SurgeryOpen
