Lanthanum carbonate

Lanthanum carbonate is a prescription medication used to lower phosphate levels in people with end-stage kidney disease. 

• Lanthanum carbonate is available under various brand names: Fosrenol

Common side effects of Lanthanum carbonate include:

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

Serious side effects of Lanthanum carbonate include:

• hives,
• difficult breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• severe bowel obstruction,
• perforation or hole in the intestines
• severe stomach pain, bloating, or tenderness;
• fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
• severe constipation; or
• bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stools.

Rare side effects of Lanthanum carbonate include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

 Adult dosage

Chewable tablet

• 500 mg
• 750 mg
• 1000 mg

Oral powder

• 750 mg
• 1000 mg

Reduction of Serum Phosphate in ESRD Patients

Adult  dosage

• Initial: 750-1500 mg/day orally in divided doses
• Titrate in 750 mg increments every 2-3 weeks until an acceptable serum phosphate level attained

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first

• Lanthanum carbonate has severe interactions with the following drugs:
  • potassium phosphates, IV
  • sodium phosphates, IV
• Lanthanum carbonate has serious interactions with the following  drugs:
  • captopril
  • erdafitinib
• Lanthanum carbonate has moderate interactions with at least 36 other drugs.
• Lanthanum carbonate has minor interactions with no other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to lanthanum carbonate
• Bowel obstruction or severe constipation 

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Lanthanum carbonate?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Lanthanum carbonate?”

Cautions

• You should not use lanthanum carbonate if you have a bowel obstruction or severe constipation.
• This medicine may cause severe bowel obstruction or 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 bowel obstruction.
• Call your doctor at once if you have severe stomach pain or tenderness, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, severe constipation, or blood in your stools.
• 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.
• Avoid taking this medicine at the same time you take your other medicines. Lanthanum carbonate can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth.

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Available data from case reports in pregnant women are insufficient to identify a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes; use a non-lanthanum-containing phosphate binder in a pregnant woman. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

Lactation

• There are no data on the presence of drugs in human milk, effects on breastfed infants, or on milk production; deposition of lanthanum into developing bone, including growth plate, was observed in juvenile animals in long-term animal studies with lanthanum carbonate; use of a non-lanthanum containing phosphate binder in a lactating woman. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding