Veltassa

Generic name: Patiromer
Drug class: Cation exchange resins

Usage of Veltassa

Veltassa (patiromer) belongs to a class of medications called potassium removing agents.

Veltassa is used in adults to treat hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in your blood). It works by removing excess potassium from the body.

Veltassa comes as a powder to mix with water and take by mouth.

Veltassa is not used for emergency treatment of life-threatening hyperkalemia because it takes some time to work.

Veltassa side effects

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

Patiromer may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

low magnesium - dizziness, irregular heartbeats, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, cough or choking feeling.

Common Veltassa side effects may include:

constipation, diarrhea;

stomach discomfort, nausea; or

gas.

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 Veltassa

You should not use Veltassa if you are allergic to patiromer, or if you have:

bowel obstruction;

bowel problems caused by recent surgery;

trouble swallowing;

severe constipation; or

low levels of magnesium in your blood.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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How to use Veltassa

Usual Adult Dose for Hyperkalemia:

Initial dose: 8.4 g orally once a day -Monitor serum potassium level and adjust dose in 8.4 mg increments at 1-week intervals based on serum potassium level and desired target range Maintenance dose: 8.4 to 25.2 mg/day Maximum dose 25.2 g/day Comments: -This drug should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action. -This drug should be administered at least 3 hours before or 3 hours after other oral medications. Use: For the treatment of hyperkalemia.

Warnings

Avoid taking other medicines by mouth within 3 hours before or 3 hours after you take Veltassa oral powder.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal (GI; affecting the stomach or intestines) surgery, constipation, fecal impaction (a dry hard stool stuck in the rectum), bowel obstruction (blockage in your intestine), a problem with your bowels after bowel surgery, or GI disease.

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

What other drugs will affect Veltassa

Patiromer can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth. If you take any of the following medications, take them 3 hours before or after you take Veltassa:

telmisartan;

bisoprolol, carvedilol, nebivolol;

ciprofloxacin;

levothyroxine;

metformin;

mycophenolate;

quinidine; or

thiamine.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with patiromer. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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