Sevelamer Hydrochloride, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antihyperphosphatemic (treats too much phosphorus in the blood)

Generic and brand names: sevelamer hydrochloride, oral; Renagel

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat hyperphosphatemia (too much phosphorus in the blood). It is used by people who have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and require hemodialysis.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before you take this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• any problems or surgery in your stomach or intestines
• trouble swallowing.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How do I take it?

Take the exact number of capsules your health care provider prescribes with meals. Do not change your dosage unless your health care provider approves. Swallow the capsules whole with water. Do not open or chew them.

Take other medicines 1 hour before or 3 hours after you take this medicine.

What should I watch out for?

You need to have blood tests regularly to determine how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for tests.

This medicine may reduce the amount of certain vitamins in your body. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist about taking a multivitamin while you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fever.

Other: Headache, high or low blood pressure, stomach upset, vomiting, cough.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• medicine to regulate your heart rhythm, such as disopyramide (Norpace), mexiletine (Mexitil), procainamide (Pronestyl, Pronestyl SR), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quinora, Quinaglute, Quinidex, Cardioquin), and tocainide (Tonocard)
• medicine to control seizures (convulsions), such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), mephenytoin (Mesantoin), phenytoin (Dilantin), primidone (Mysoline), valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote), and zonisamide (Zonegran).

Take other medicines 1 hour before or 3 hours after doses of this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.