Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Rectal)

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is used to treat high levels of potassium in the blood, which is known as hyperkalemia.

This medicine is available only with a prescription from your doctor.

It is very important that your doctor monitors you closely to ensure that this medicine is working correctly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) may happen while you are using this medicine. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience confusion, dry mouth, increased thirst, irregular heartbeat, irritability, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, or trouble breathing.

This medicine may lead to a serious stomach or bowel issue called intestinal necrosis. This is more likely to happen if you have a history of bowel disease, bowel surgery, low blood volume, kidney problems, or if you take sorbitol along with this medicine. Inform your doctor right away if you or your child have severe constipation, severe stomach pain, bloody, black, or tarry stools, or vomit blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.

Notify your doctor if you experience unexplained weight gain or edema (fluid retention or body swelling) while using this medicine.

This medicine may cause lung or breathing issues (e.g., bronchitis, bronchopneumonia) if you inhale its powder form. It may also increase your risk of aspiration. Take this medicine while sitting up to avoid this. Discuss any questions with your doctor.

If you are taking antacids or laxatives that contain aluminum or magnesium, inform your doctor before using sodium polystyrene sulfonate. These medications may prevent sodium polystyrene sulfonate from working properly and may lead to serious side effects.

Do not take other medicines unless you have talked about them with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, you must think about the risks and benefits together with your doctor. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also inform your healthcare professional about any other allergies you may have, 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 done on how sodium polystyrene sulfonate affects children. However, there are no expected pediatric-specific problems that would limit its use in children.

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

Geriatric

There is no information available on how sodium polystyrene sulfonate affects older patients.

Breast Feeding

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

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these situations, your doctor may adjust the dose or take other precautions. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on 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 necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or frequency of use for one or both of the medicines.

• Meloxicam
• Sorbitol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the 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 frequency of use for one or both of the medicines.

• Liothyronine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at the same time as eating food or certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional how to use your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect how you use this medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, 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 (e.g., arrhythmia, QT prolongation) or
• Severe hypertension (high blood pressure), or
• Hypocalcemia (low calcium in the blood) or
• Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood)
• Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood)—Use with caution. May worsen these conditions.

• Hyperkalemia, life-threatening—Should not be used as an emergency treatment because it takes time to work.

• Hypovolemia (low blood volume) or
• Kidney disease—Use with caution. May worsen side effects.

• Patients not having any bowel movements after surgery
• History of stomach or bowel problems (e.g., bleeding, colitis, constipation, perforation)—Avoid use in patients with these conditions.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

• Bloody vomit
• chest pain or tightness
• cough
• cough producing mucus
• difficulty with breathing
• fever or chills
• severe stomach pain
• sneezing
• sore throat
• trouble breathing

Incidence not known

• Confusion
• constipation
• decrease in the amount of urine
• diarrhea
• dry mouth
• increased thirst
• irregular heartbeat
• loss of appetite
• muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
• nausea or vomiting
• noisy, rattling breathing
• numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
• seizures
• severe constipation
• swelling of the fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs
• stomach cramps or pain
• tremor
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weight gain or loss

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• Dizziness
• drowsiness
• fainting
• fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
• lightheadedness
• muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching
• pounding or rapid pulse
• trembling

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is given as a rectal enema.

Use this medicine at least 3 hours before or after taking oral medicines. If your stomach takes too long to empty food (gastroparesis), use this medicine 6 hours before or after taking oral medicines.