Lanthanum carbonate

Lanthanum carbonate is used to reduce phosphate levels in patients with end stage kidney disease. High phosphate levels can interfere with your body's ability to absorb calcium, which can lead to serious health issues.

Lanthanum carbonate may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take lanthanum carbonate with food or right after eating.

The chewable tablet must be chewed or crushed completely before you swallow it. Do not swallow a chewable tablet whole. Not chewing the tablet completely may lead to serious stomach or intestinal problems.

If you have tooth problems or cannot chew easily, crush the chewable tablet before swallowing, or ask your doctor about using the oral powder form of lanthanum carbonate.

Sprinkle the oral powder into a small amount of applesauce or other soft food (oral powder will not dissolve in liquid). Swallow right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use.

While using lanthanum carbonate, you may need frequent blood tests.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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

This medicine may cause severe bowel obstruction or a perforation (a hole or tear) in your intestines. Your risk is higher if you have ever had stomach or intestinal problems including ulcers, cancer, surgery, or a bowel obstruction.

Call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain or tenderness, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, severe constipation, or blood in your stools.

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

• a bowel obstruction or severe constipation.

lanthanum carbonate may cause severe bowel obstruction or a perforation (a hole or tear) in your intestines, especially if you have ever had stomach or intestinal problems.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a stomach ulcer;
• a 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 of your stomach area, tell the doctor ahead of time that you are using lanthanum carbonate.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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

Lanthanum carbonate may cause severe bowel obstruction or a perforation (a hole or tear) in your intestines.

Lanthanum carbonate may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you have:

• severe stomach pain, bloating, or tenderness;
• fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
• severe constipation; or
• bleeding from your rectum or blood in your stools;

Common side effects of lanthanum carbonate may include:

• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea; or
• stomach pain.

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.

Usual Adult Dose for Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure:

Initial dose: 1500 mg orally per day in divided doses with mealsTitrate in increments of 750 mg/day every 2 to 3 weeks until an acceptable serum phosphate level is reachedMaintenance dose: Most patients require 1500 to 3000 mg/day to reduce plasma phosphate levels to less than 6 mg/dL Maximum dose: 4500 mg/dayComments: -In addition to reduction of intestinal phosphate with phosphate binders, management of elevated serum phosphorus levels in ESRD requires reduction in dietary intake of phosphate and removal of phosphate by dialysis.Use: To reduce serum phosphate levels in patients with end stage renal disease.

Skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Avoid taking lanthanum carbonate at the same time as your other medicines. Lanthanum carbonate can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth.

Lanthanum carbonate can make it difficult for your body to absorb other medicines, which may reduce their effectiveness. If you take any of the following medicines, take them at a different time from your dose of lanthanum carbonate:

• 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.