Treatment Options: Non-Surgical

If your doctor thinks the stone can pass on its own, and you feel you can deal with the pain, he or she may suggest home treatment, including:

• Drinking more fluids. You need to drink enough water to keep your urine clear, about 8 to 10 glasses a day. Try to drink 2 glasses of water every 2 hours while you are awake. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and are on fluid restrictions, talk with your doctor before increasing your fluid intake.
• Not drinking grapefruit juice. Drinking grapefruit juice may increase your risk for developing kidney stones.
• Using pain medicine. Nonprescription medicine, such as nosteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), may relieve your pain. Your doctor can prescribe stronger pain medicine if needed.

Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help your body pass the stone. Calcium channel blockers and alpha-blockers have been shown to help kidney stones pass more quickly with very few side effects. Consult with your doctor to see if one of these medicines might work for you.

If your pain is too severe, if the stones are blocking the urinary tract, or if you also have an infection, your doctor will probably suggest medical or surgical treatment.

Benefits and Risks

You may pass the stone with need for additional more invasive treatments, such as PowerSuite^™ holmium laser lithotripsy.

• Pain caused by the passing the stone naturally
• Blocked urine flow as a result of stone becoming stuck in the urinary tract.
• Urinary tract infection
• Side affects from proscribed drugs

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