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What is sodium polystyrene sulfonate?
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate affects the exchange of sodium and potassium in the body. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is used to treat high levels of potassium in the blood, also called hyperkalemia. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of sodium polystyrene sulfonate?

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

Tell your caregivers right away if you have any of these serious side effects:

• pain or fluttering in your chest;

• uneven heartbeats;

• feeling irritable or confused;

• increased thirst or urination;

• severe muscle weakness;

• inability to move your muscles;

• black, bloody, or tarry stools;

• pain in your lower stomach or rectum; or

• swelling, rapid weight gain.

Less serious side effects may include:

• diarrhea or constipation;

• nausea or vomiting;

• upset stomach; or

• loss of appetite.

This list is not complete and other side effects may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How is sodium polystyrene sulfonate given?
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate can be given as a liquid by mouth, through a stomach feeding tube, or as a rectal enema. This medication is usually given 1 to 4 times daily by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting. The powder form of this medicine is mixed with water, or syrup (to make it taste better if given by mouth). If you are given the rectal enema, the liquid will be given slowly while you are lying down. You may need to hold the enema in for up to several hours. The sodium polystyrene sulfonate enema is usually followed with a second cleansing enema.

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What is the most important information I should know about sodium polystyrene sulfonate?
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate can be given as a liquid by mouth, through a stomach feeding tube, or as a rectal enema. This medication is usually given 1 to 4 times daily by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting. If possible, before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you have a bowel obstruction, low blood levels of potassium, heart disease or high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, edema (water weight gain), kidney disease, or if you are constipated or on a low-salt diet.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Since this medication is usually given in a hospital, it is not likely that you will miss a dose.

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What other drugs will affect sodium polystyrene sulfonate?
Before receiving this medicine, tell your doctor if you also use: digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); thyroxine; or a diuretic (water pill) such as triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), spironolactone (Aldactone), or amiloride (Midamor). This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with sodium polystyrene sulfonate. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

There are no data on the excretion of sodium polystyrene sulfonate into human milk.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Hypokalemia.
• Obstructive bowel disease.
• Neonates with decreased gut mobility (postoperative or drug induced).
• Oral administration in neonates.
• Known hypersensitivity to sodium polystyrene sulfonate resins or any ingredient in the formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Tell your caregivers at once if you think you have received too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include confusion, irritability, trouble thinking or concentrating, muscle weakness, or trouble breathing.

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What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving sodium polystyrene sulfonate?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to sodium polystyrene sulfonate, or have certain conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have: low potassium levels (hypokalemia); or a bowel obstruction. Before receiving sodium polystyrene sulfonate, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have: heart disease or high blood pressure; congestive heart failure; edema (water weight gain); kidney disease; constipation; or if you are on a low-salt diet. If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use sodium polystyrene sulfonate, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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