SODIUM POLYSTYRENE SULFONATE

(SOE dee um pol ee STEER een SUL foe nate) Brand: Kalexate, Kayexalate, Kionex

What is the most significant information I must know about sodium polystyrene sulfonate?

• Sodium polystyrene sulfonate can be given as a liquid by mouth, through a stomach feeding pipe, or as a rectal enema. This medicine is generally given 1 to 4 times daily by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting.

• If possible, till you receive this medicine, speak your doctor if you have a bowel obstruction, low blood levels of potassium, heart malady or tall blood pressure, congestive heart failure, edema (water weight gain), kidney malady, or if you are constipated or on a low-salt diet.

• In an abnormal situation, it may not be possible till you are treated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate to speak your caregivers about any health conditions you have or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, create certain any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your child knows that you have received this medication.

• Speak your caregivers right away if you have any signs that your potassium level is getting too low, such as: pain or fluttering in your chest, uneven heartbeats, feeling irritable or confused, severe muscle weakness, breathing problems, or inability to move your muscles.

• Speak your doctor if you also take digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), thyroxine, or a diuretic (water pill).

• Do not use salt substitutes or take potassium or calcium supplements unless your doctor has told you to. Avoid using antacids or laxatives without your doctor's advice.

• You will need to hold using this medicine even if you feel beautiful. Hyperkalemia often has no symptoms that you will notice.

What is sodium polystyrene sulfonate?

• Sodium polystyrene sulfonate affects the exchange of sodium and potassium in the body.

• Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is used to treat tall levels of potassium in the blood, also called hyperkalemia.

• Sodium polystyrene sulfonate may also be used for purposes another than those listed here.

What must I discuss with my health care provider till receiving sodium polystyrene sulfonate?

• You must not receive this medicine if you are allergic to sodium polystyrene sulfonate, or have determined conditions. Be certain your doctor knows if you have:

· low potassium levels (hypokalemia); or

· a bowel obstruction.

• Till receiving sodium polystyrene sulfonate, speak your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

· heart malady or tall blood pressure;

· congestive heart failure;

· edema (water weight gain);

· kidney disease;

· constipation; or

· if you are on a low-salt diet.

• If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use sodium polystyrene sulfonate, or you may need dosage adjustments or particular trials during treatment.

• FDA pregnancy category C. This medicine may be deleterious to an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• In an abnormal situation, it may not be possible till treatment to speak your caregivers if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. However, create certain any doctor caring for your pregnancy or your child knows that you have received this medication.

How is sodium polystyrene sulfonate given?

• The powder form of this medication is mixed with water, or syrup (to create it taste better if given by mouth).

• If you are given the rectal enema, the liquid will be given slowly while you are lying down. You may need to keep the enema in for up to different hours. The sodium polystyrene sulfonate enema is generally followed with a second cleansing enema.

• You will need to hold using this medicine even if you feel beautiful. Hyperkalemia often has no symptoms that you will notice.

• To be certain this medicine is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested often. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with sodium polystyrene sulfonate.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Since this medicine is generally given in a hospital, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Speak your caregivers at once if you think you have received too many of this medicine.

• Overdose symptoms may include confusion, irritability, trouble thinking or concentrating, muscle weakness, or trouble breathing.

What must I avoid while receiving sodium polystyrene sulfonate?

• Do not use salt substitutes or take potassium or calcium supplements unless your doctor has told you to.

• Avoid using antacids or laxatives without your doctor's advice. Antacids or laxatives can create sodium polystyrene sulfonate smaller effective or reason serious side effects.

• Avoid eating or drinking anything that contains sorbitol (a fruit sugar often used as a sweetener in chewing gum, diet drinks, baked goods, or frozen desserts).

What are the possible side effects of sodium polystyrene sulfonate?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Speak your caregivers right away if you have any of these serious side effects:

· pain or fluttering in your chest;

· uneven heartbeats;

· feeling irritable or confused;

· heighten thirst or urination;

· severe muscle weakness;

· inability to move your muscles;

· black, bloody, or tarry stools;

· pain in your lower stomach or rectum; or

· swelling, rapid weight gain.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· diarrhea or constipation;

· nausea or vomiting;

· upset stomach; or

· loss of appetite.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Speak your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect sodium polystyrene sulfonate?

• Till receiving this medication, speak your doctor if you also use:

· digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);

· lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);

· thyroxine; or

· a diuretic (water pill) such as triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), spironolactone (Aldactone), or amiloride (Midamor).

• This list is not complete and there may be another drugs that can interact with sodium polystyrene sulfonate. Speak your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about sodium polystyrene.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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