Lanthanum carbonate

What is lanthanum carbonate?

Lanthanum carbonate is used to lower phosphate levels in patients with end stage kidney disease. High levels of phosphate can make it hard for your body to absorb calcium, which can cause serious medical problems.

Lanthanum carbonate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important Information

You should not use lanthanum carbonate 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. Your risk is higher if you have ever had stomach or intestinal problems including ulcers, cancer, surgery, or a 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.

Before Taking Lanthanum carbonate

You should not use lanthanum carbonate if you are allergic to it, or 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, 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 (infection or inflammation of the stomach or intestines).

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 breast-feeding.

How should I take lanthanum carbonate?

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 immediately after eating.

The chewable tablet must be chewed 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.

What happens if I miss a dose of Lanthanum carbonate?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

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

What should I avoid while taking lanthanum carbonate?

Avoid taking lanthanum carbonate 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.

Lanthanum carbonate side effects

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

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

Call your doctor at once 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 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.

Lanthanum carbonate dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Hyperphosphatemia of Renal Failure:

Initial dose: 1500 mg orally per day in divided doses with meals
Titrate in increments of 750 mg/day every 2 to 3 weeks until an acceptable serum phosphate level is reached
Maximum dose: 4500 mg/day

Comments:
-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.
-Most patients will require daily doses between 1500 and 3000 mg to reduce plasma phosphate levels to less than 6 mg/dL.

Use: To reduce serum phosphate levels in patients with end stage renal disease.

What other drugs will affect lanthanum carbonate?

Lanthanum carbonate can make certain medicines less effective when taken at the same time. If you take any of the following medicines, take them separately 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.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.