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|Lanthanum

LANTHANUM (Oral-Local)†

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Fosrenol

† Not commercially available in Canada.

Category

• Antihyperphosphatemic

Description

Lanthanum (LAN-tha-num) is used to treat hyperphosphatemia (too much phosphate in the blood) in patients with kidney disease who are on dialysis.

This medicine is available only with your doctor"s prescription, in the following dosage forms:

• Oral
• Chewable tablets (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For lanthanum, the following should be considered:

Pregnancy—Studies have not been done in humans. It is not known if lanthanum affects the absorption of vitamins in pregnant women. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known if lanthanum passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of lanthanum in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults—This medicine has been tested and has not been been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking lanthanum, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking antiacids or any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of lanthanum. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bowel obstruction (blockage) or other disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract or
• Crohn"s disease or
• Peptic ulcer (an ulcer in the wall of the stomach) or
• Ulcerative colitis (inflammatory disease of the colon)—Use of lanthanum has not been studied in patients with these medical problems.

Proper Use of This Medicine

Take this medicine with meals.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less of it, and do not take it more often than your doctor ordered.

Chew the tablet before swallowing. Do not swallow the tablet whole.

Follow carefully any diet program your doctor may recommend.

Dosing—The dose of lanthanum will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor"s orders or the directions on the label .

• For oral dosage form (chewable tablets):
  • For high phosphorus levels in the blood:
    • Adults—Your dose will be determined by your doctor depending on how high your blood phosphorus level is.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

Regular visits: If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. If they do occur they may need medical attention.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. The following side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Developed: 12/14/2004

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