Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of sodium polystyrene sulfonate in the pediatric population. However, pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of this medicine in children are not expected.

This medicine should not be used in newborn infants who have reduced or slow bowel movements.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of sodium polystyrene sulfonate in geriatric patients.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Meloxicam
  • Sorbitol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Liothyronine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Bowel blockage or
  • Newborn infants who have slow bowel movements—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Congestive heart failure, or
  • Edema (fluid retention) or
  • Heart rhythm problems (eg, arrhythmia, QT prolongation) or
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure), severe or
  • Hypocalcemia (low calcium in the blood) or
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood)
  • Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Hyperkalemia, life-threatening—Should not be used as an emergency treatment because of its delayed onset of action.
  • Hypovolemia (low blood volume) or
  • Kidney disease—Use with caution. May cause side effects to become worse.
  • Patients not having any bowel movements after a surgery
  • Stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, colitis, constipation, perforation), history of—Avoid use in patients with these conditions.