Top 10 Dialysis Side Effects and When to Seek Medical Help

What is Dialysis and Why Is It Needed?

Dialysis is a medical treatment that supports your body when your kidneys can no longer remove waste, excess fluid, and harmful salts from your blood. Healthy kidneys keep your blood balanced, and with disrupted renal balance, toxins build up, which leads to serious health problems and dialysis side effects.

Doctors advise dialysis when kidney disease reaches an advanced stage or when sudden kidney failure causes symptoms such as swelling. The treatment helps protect your heart, brain, and overall health while your care team closely monitors your response and reduces the risks associated with dialysis side effects.

Now, let’s explore some common kidney dialysis side effects.

10 Dialysis Side Effects You Should Know

Dialysis supports your health when kidney function detoriarates, yet it can also cause certain physical and mental changes. Such side effects differ from mild discomfort to serious issues.

1. Low Blood Pressure

Low blood pressure is one of the common dialysis side effects that can occur when your body loses fluid too quickly during a session, which may make you feel faint, sick, or weak. A study suggests that in haemodialysis, about 31 % of patients experienced a significant drop in blood pressure during treatment, showing it happens often enough to need close watch at your dialysis unit ¹.

2. Infection Within The Access Site

Bacterial infection at the catheter point is a common issue as bacteria can enter your blood through the access point. Moreover, inadequate skin care, compromised immunity, or repeated needle use raise this risk and may harm your health. Seek medical help if you notice pain, redness, heat, discharge, or fever.

3. Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps are a frequent dialysis side effects and often cause painful tightening in your feet during or soon after dialysis. Rapid fluid removal and shifts in sodium or calcium levels place stress on muscles and nerves, which leads to this pain. If you face regular cramps, timely adjustments in fluid targets can help prevent recurrent episodes.

4. Itchy or Dry Skin (Pruritus)

Itchy or dry skin often links to the build-up and deposition of waste products in your blood when the kidneys fail to filter toxins. High phosphorus levels, dry skin, or nerve changes can cause an itch that affects sleep cycles. Informing your healthcare professional is key if the itch continues. Accordingly, diet control, skin care, or medical support can help reduce it.

5. Weight Changes and Fluid Imbalance

Sudden weight gain or loss can indicate a fluid imbalance when excess water stays in your body or leaves your body too quickly after a dialysis session. A recent study suggests that fluid status in haemodialysis patients had 27% rates of overhydration. A careful review of fluid targets and removal helps reduce the risk of breathing difficulties, swelling, and other complications ².

6. Mental Health & Sleep Disturbances

Mental strain and sleep issues are concerns for people going through dialysis and can affect their daily comfort and emotional health. Stress, hospital visits, and physical discomfort may disturb sleep or lower mood over time. You should speak to your care team if you notice ongoing sleep trouble, anxiety, or low mood, as timely support can help you feel more stable and rested.

7. Peritoneal Dialysis Complications

Peritoneal dialysis causes issues specifically within the abdomen as the treatment uses fluid in your belly to remove waste. The most serious risk is peritonitis, which may cause stomach pain, fever, cloudy dialysis fluid, or nausea and requires urgent medical help. It is critical to seek medical help at this point to develop an early treatment plan and implement it.

8. Blood Clots

Blood clots are a serious kidney dialysis side effects​ and often affect the access site that allows blood flow during treatment. Poor blood flow, vessel damage, or pressure on the access can lead to clot formation and reduce dialysis effectiveness.

9. Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome

It is a rare complication and is characterised by neurological symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and more. The syndrome is characterised by rapid changes in solute concentrations in the brain during dialysis. Careful monitoring and gradual initiation of dialysis help reduce the risk of syndrome.

10. Cardiovascular Issues

Individuals going through haemodialysis are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular complications like arrhythmia, stroke, and others. Risks are attributed to factors such as electrolyte imbalance and fluid overload. Cardiovascular assessment is critical during haemodialysis.

Also read: SLED Dialysis: A Hybrid Approach to Kidney Failure Treatment.

Dialysis Side Effects Toll on Elderly Patients

Older adults on dialysis often have more health challenges and may experience dialysis side effects more frequently or intensely than younger people. Reduced heart and blood vessel flexibility, immune response, and multiple chronic conditions common in older adults can raise the risk of low blood pressure, infections, fatigue, and bone mineral problems.
Such effects may reduce physical strength and daily comfort if care does not match age-related needs. At our centres, the care team closely monitors symptoms, adjusts treatment plans, and provides ongoing medical support to ensure elderly patients receive safer, more stable care.

How Eskag Sanjeevani Dialysis Provides the Best Dialysis Support

Eskag Sanjeevani dialysis offers high-quality kidney dialysis care with a team of experienced nephrologists and trained staff who focus on your health needs. The centres use advanced dialysis machines and modern clinical support to deliver safe treatments for people with kidney conditions.
With round-the-clock monitoring, personalised plans, and compassionate care, you receive steady support that helps you manage treatment and any dialysis side effects with confidence.