Kayexalate

What Is Kayexalate?

Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene) is a cation-exchange resin used to treat high levels of potassium in the blood, also called hyperkalemia. Kayexalate works by helping your body get rid of extra potassium. Kayexalate is available in generic form.

What Are Side Effects of Kayexalate?

Common side effects of Kayexalate include:

• loss of appetite,
• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• constipation, or
• diarrhea.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects, of Kayexalate including:

• muscle weakness or spasms,
• fast or irregular heartbeat,
• mental/mood changes (such as irritability,
• confusion,
• slowed thinking),
• swelling hands/ankles/feet,
• pain or fluttering in your chest,
• severe abdominal pain,
• increased thirst or urination,
• black, bloody,or tarry stools,
• pain in your lower stomach or rectum,or
• rapid weight gain.

Dosage for Kayexalate

The average daily adult dose of Kayexalate is 15 g to 60 g, taken as 15 g (approximately 4 level teaspoons) one to four times daily.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Kayexalate?

Kayexalate may interact with digoxin, lithium, thyroxine, or diuretics (water pills). Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Kayexalate During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

During pregnancy, Kayexalate should be used only when prescribed. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk, and the effect on a nursing infant is unknown. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

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Our Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

 

Kayexalate Consumer Information

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

Stop using sodium polystyrene sulfonate and call your doctor at once if you have:

• stomach pain, rectal pain;
• severe constipation, severe stomach pain, bloating;
• fever, chills, vomiting;
• confusion, thinking problems, feeling irritable;
• low potassium--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling;
• low calcium levels--muscle spasms or contractions, numbness or tingly feeling (around your mouth, or in your fingers and toes); or
• signs of stomach bleeding--bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea, constipation; or
• loss of appetite.

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.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Kayexalate (Sodium Polystyrene)

 

Kayexalate Professional Information

SIDE EFFECTS

The following adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the labeling:

• Intestinal Necrosis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Electrolyte Disturbances [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Aspiration [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of KAYEXALATE. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency reliably or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Gastrointestinal: anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, fecal impaction, gastrointestinal concretions (bezoars), ischemic colitis, nausea, ulcerations, vomiting, gastric irritation, intestinal obstruction (due to concentration of aluminium hydroxide)

Metabolic: systemic alkalosis

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Kayexalate (Sodium Polystyrene)