Patiromer

Patiromer is used to treat high potassium levels (hyperkalemia).

Patiromer is available under the following different brand names: Veltassa.

Dosages of Patiromer:

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Oral Powder for Suspension

• 8.4g/packet
• 16.8g/packet
• 25.2g/packet

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Hyperkalemia

• Indicated for hyperkalemia
• Initial: 8.4 g orally once daily
• Monitor serum potassium and adjust dose based on the serum potassium level and the desired target range
• May increase or decrease dose as necessary; not to exceed 25.2 g once daily
• May titrate upward at 1-week or longer intervals, in increments of 8.4 g
• Note: Doses exceeding 50.4 g/day have not been tested; excessive doses may result in hypokalemia; restore serum potassium if hypokalemia occurs

Dosage Modifications

Renal Impairment

• No dosing adjustments are needed
• Of the 666 patients treated with patiromer in clinical studies, 93% had chronic kidney disease

Dosing Considerations

• Limitations of use: Should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action
• Safety and efficacy not established in pediatric patients

Common side effects of patiromer include:

• Constipation
• Low blood magnesium (hypomagnesemia)
• Diarrhea
• Low blood potassium (hypokalemia, less than 3.5 mEq/L)
• Nausea)
• Abdominal discomfort
• Gas (flatulence)

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, 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.

• Patiromer has no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
• Patiromer has no listed serious interactions with other drugs.
• Moderate interactions of patiromer include:
  • ciprofloxacin
  • levothyroxine
  • metformin
• Patiromer has no listed mild interactions with other drugs.

Warnings

• This medication contains patiromer. Do not take Veltassa if you are allergic to patiromer or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to patiromer or its components

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information is available.

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Patiromer?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Patiromer?"

Cautions

• Patiromer binds many orally administered medications, which could decrease their gastrointestinal (GI) absorption and lead to reduced efficacy
• Avoid use with severe constipation, bowel obstruction, or impaction, including abnormal post-operative bowel motility disorders; patiromer may be ineffective with these conditions present and may worsen GI conditions
• Patients with a history of bowel obstruction or major GI surgery, severe GI disorders, or swallowing disorders were not included in clinical trials
• Binds to magnesium in the colon, which can lead to hypomagnesemia; monitor serum magnesium; consider magnesium supplementation if low serum magnesium levels observed

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Patiromer is not absorbed systemically following oral administration, and maternal use during pregnancy is not expected to result in fetal risk.
• Patiromer is not absorbed systemically by the mother, so breastfeeding is not expected to result in a risk to the infant.