Fosrenol

Generic name: Lanthanum Carbonate
Drug class: Phosphate binders

Usage of Fosrenol

Fosrenol prevents the body from absorbing phosphate, allowing it to be removed from the body.

Fosrenol is used to lower phosphate levels in patients with end stage kidney disease. High levels of phosphate can make it hard for your body to absorb calcium, which can cause serious medical problems.

Fosrenol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Fosrenol side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Fosrenol: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe constipation; or

severe stomach cramps.

Common Fosrenol side effects may include:

upset stomach, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting;

constipation;

itching, rash; or

tooth injury while chewing the tablet.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Fosrenol

You should not use Fosrenol if you are allergic to lanthanum carbonate, or if you have:

a bowel obstruction or severe constipation.

To make sure Fosrenol is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a stomach ulcer;

any type of bowel obstruction;

slow digestion or severe constipation;

surgery on your stomach or intestines;

ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis;

stomach or intestinal cancer; or

peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane lining the organs inside your abdomen).

If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan of your stomach area, tell the doctor ahead of time that you are using Fosrenol.

It is not known whether lanthanum carbonate will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether lanthanum carbonate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

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How to use Fosrenol

Usual Adult Dose for Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure:

Initial dose: 1500 mg orally daily; take in divided doses with meals Titrate in increments of 750 mg/day every 2 to 3 weeks until an acceptable serum phosphate level is reached Maximum dose: 4500 mg/day Comments: Most patients will require daily doses between 1500 and 3000 mg to reduce plasma phosphate levels to less than 6 mg/dL. Use: To reduce serum phosphate levels in patients with end stage renal disease.

Warnings

You should not use Fosrenol if you have a bowel obstruction or severe constipation.

Before you take Fosrenol, tell your doctor if you have a stomach ulcer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diabetes, any type of bowel obstruction, or a history of colon cancer or intestinal surgery.

The chewable tablet should be chewed completely before you swallow it.

Take this medicine with food or immediately after eating.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially antibiotics, seizure medication, heart or blood pressure medication, or a blood thinner.

If you also take thyroid replacement medication, take it at least 2 hours before or after taking Fosrenol. Do not take thyroid medication and lanthanum carbonate at the same time.

Avoid taking an antacid within 2 hours before or after you take lanthanum carbonate. Some antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb lanthanum carbonate.

What other drugs will affect Fosrenol

Lanthanum carbonate can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take, which could make the other medicines less effective. If you take any of the following medicines, take them separately from your dose of Fosrenol:

Thyroid medication: Take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take lanthanum carbonate.

An antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin (Levaquin): Take it at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after you take lanthanum carbonate.

An antacid: Take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take lanthanum carbonate.

Other drugs may affect lanthanum carbonate, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

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