What is Lanthanum carbonate?
Lanthanum carbonate is used in the treatment of patients with kidney disease. High phosphate levels can prevent your body from absorbing calcium. Consequently, this can result in serious medical concerns.
This medication guide does not list all possible uses for lanthanum carbonate.
Side effects of Lanthanum carbonate
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of the face, lips, or throat.Lanthanum carbonate can cause severe obstruction of the bowel or a perforation in your intestines (a hole or tear).
The side effects of lanthanum carbonate can be serious. If you experience:
- Severe stomach pain, bloating, or tenderness
- Fever; nausea; vomiting.
- Constipation is severe.
- Failing the pregnancy tests: are stools tested positive for blood, or is bleeding from the rectum area.
Lanthanum carbonate can cause a variety of side effects.
- Nausea, vomiting;
- Diarrhoea;
- Stomach pain.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Contact the FDA by dialing 1-800-FDA-1088 in order to report adverse side effects.
Warnings
If you suffer from severe constipation or bowel obstruction, then you should avoid using lanthanum.This medication may cause severe bowel blockage or a perforation in your intestines. You are at a higher risk if you've ever had stomach or intestine problems, including ulcers, cancer, or surgery If you experience severe stomach pain, tenderness, or fever, along with chills, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, severe constipation, or bloody stools, call your doctor immediately.
Before you take this drug
If you are allergic or have any of the following:
- Bowel obstruction, or severe constipation.
Lanthanum carbonate can cause severe bowel obstructions or perforations (a hole or tear in the intestines), especially if you've ever had stomach or gastrointestinal problems.
Inform your physician immediately of any of the following conditions:
- A stomach ulcer
- A bowel obstruction
- Slow digestion or severe constipation
- Surgery on the stomach or intestines
- Ulcerative colitis crohn’s disease diverticulitis
- Cancer of the stomach or intestine
- Peritonitis is an inflammation of the membrane that lines the organs in your abdomen.
Tell your doctor if you plan to undergo any type of x-ray in the stomach area.Inform your physician if you are pregnant or nursing.
How to take Lanthanum carbonate?
Read all the instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow the directions. Sometimes, your doctor will change the dose. You must take the medication exactly as prescribed.Take lanthanum carbonate immediately after or with food.You must chew or crush the chewable tablet completely before swallowing it. You should not swallow the chewable tablet in its entirety. If you do not chew the tablet thoroughly, it can cause serious stomach and intestinal problems.Ask your doctor if you can use the powdered form of lanthanum carbonate if you have difficulty chewing or if the tablet is difficult to swallow.Oral powder does not dissolve in liquids. Sprinkle a little powder on applesauce or any other soft food. Do not chew. Swallow immediately. Don't save the mixture to use later.You may need to have frequent blood tests if you use lanthanum.Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
Details on dosage
Adult dose for hyperphosphatemia and renal failure:
Initial dose: 1500mg orally, divided daily with meals.
The serum phosphate levels can be adjusted by titrating in increments of up to 750 mg/day for 2 to 3 weeks until the desired level is achieved.
Maintenance dose: Most patients need 1500–3000 mg/day in order to maintain plasma phosphate levels below 6 mg/dL.
Maximum dose: 4500 mg/day
Comments:
In conjunction with the use of phosphate binders to reduce intestinal phosphate, the management of high serum phosphorus in ESRD involves a reduction in dietary phosphate intake and the removal of phosphate through dialysis.
Use: Reduce serum phosphate in patients with end-stage renal disease.
What happens if I miss the dose?
Do not use the missed dose. Use your next dose as usual. Use only one dose at a time.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you suspect or experience poison. Otherwise seek immediate medical treatment.
What should be avoided?
Take your other medications before taking lanthanum. Lanthanum can interfere with the absorption of other medications you take orally.
Interaction with other drug
If you take any of the following medicines, it is important to take them separately from your lanthanum carbonate dose. Take lanthanum separately from any of these medicines:
- Take your thyroid medication at least 2 hours prior to or 2 hours following the lanthanum.
- If you are taking an antibiotic, such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, take it at least one hour before or four hours after lanthanum.
- If you are taking lanthanum, take it 2 hours prior to or 2 hours following the lanthanum.
Other drugs, such as vitamins and herbal products, may also affect lanthanum. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking and those that you stop or start using.
