General Information on Fosrenol
Fosrenol is indicated to keep your blood phosphate levels in check. It is given to a patient who has severe kidney disease and is on dialysis. Dialysis may cause your blood phosphate levels to shoot up, due to which this drug may be prescribed by a doctor.
The active ingredient in the medicine is Lanthanum, which falls under the therapeutic class of phosphate binders. Fosrenol is available in the form of oral chewable tablets.
Lanthanum is a natural mineral which works by curbing phosphate absorption so that it can pass out of your body.
Side effects of Fosrenol
Do not buy Fosrenol if you have previously suffered an allergy to it or if you suffer from severe constipation or bowel obstruction. Your doctor will need to conduct special tests and make necessary dosage adjustments if you are suffering from Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, slow gut syndrome, stomach ulcer, colon cancer, diabetes, or if you recently underwent an intestinal surgery. Such individuals may be more susceptible to the serious side effects of Fosrenol.
Some of the common side effects associated with Fosrenol include constipation, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, or diarrhea. These are mild side effects of the drug and subside as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, you should notify your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms worsen or persist.
You may commonly experience dizziness during Fosrenol treatment. Therefore, you should avoid driving a vehicle, operating a machine, or doing any such activity that requires you to be completely alert. Otherwise, a serious accident may take place.
Some serious side effects Fosrenol patients may experience include severe mental or mood changes, muscle weakness, serious blockage in the bowels, abdominal pain, severe constipation, or persistent vomiting. Seek medical help immediately if you suffer from any of these symptoms.
Some patients may also develop an allergic reaction to Fosrenol. Discontinue using the drug and seek medical help if you experience trouble breathing, hives, severe dizziness, or facial swelling or itching.
Dosage of Fosrenol
Initially, your doctor will recommend you to take Fosrenol 1500mg daily, divided into 2 or 3 doses. The dosage can be adjusted after 2-3 weeks depending on your response to treatment.
Take Fosrenol tablets immediately after food or along with meals. You will have to chew the tablet properly before swallowing it.
You can also crush the tablet so that chewing it can be made easier.
Drug Interactions of Fosrenol
Your doctor will not advise you to buy Fosrenol if you are already taking blood thinners (e.g. warfarin), heart or blood pressure medicines (e.g. disopyramide, diltiazem or amlodipine), antibiotics (e.g. norfloxacin, moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin or gemifloxacin) or anti-seizure drugs (e.g. valproid acid or carbamazepine).
As Fosrenol causes dizziness, do not take any other drug that causes the same effect. Such medicines include narcotic pain killers, sedatives, sleeping pills, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, or tranquilizers.
If you are on thyroid replacement drugs and/or antacids, you should maintain a gap of at least 2 hours between these drugs and Fosrenol.
