Fosrenol Chewable Tablets (Lanthanum Carbonate Hydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Fosrenol Chewable Tablets Used For?
Fosrenol contains lanthanum carbonate hydrate and is specifically designed to help manage phosphate levels in your blood if you have chronic kidney disease.
Primary Uses
Fosrenol is used to lower phosphate levels in the blood of adult patients with chronic kidney disease. When kidneys don’t work properly, phosphate can build up in the blood, causing a condition called hyperphosphataemia.
How It Works
Fosrenol works as a phosphate binder that prevents your body from absorbing phosphate from the food you eat. The phosphate in your food binds to Fosrenol and is carried through your digestive system to be eliminated in your stool, helping to reduce excess phosphate in your blood.
Good to know: Phosphorus is naturally found in your body as phosphate and is needed for building strong teeth and bones, but too much can be harmful when kidneys aren’t working properly.
How to Take Fosrenol Chewable Tablets
Always take Fosrenol exactly as your doctor has instructed you. The tablets must be chewed completely and never swallowed whole.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take with each meal. Your daily dose will be divided between three meals. The starting dose is usually 1 tablet with each meal (3 tablets per day). Your doctor will check your blood phosphate levels and may adjust your dose. The tablets must be chewed completely – if you have difficulty chewing or wear dentures, you can crush the tablets. Take Fosrenol with or immediately after every meal. If you eat extra meals or snacks, you may need additional tablets as directed by your doctor.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you forget to take your Fosrenol with a meal, take the next dose with your next meal. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Important: Never swallow Fosrenol tablets whole – they must be chewed completely to reduce the risk of serious gastrointestinal complications like intestinal blockage or rupture.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- headache
- stomach pain
- indigestion
- flatulence
- constipation
- bronchitis and runny nose
- dizziness (from low blood pressure)
- tiredness
- weakness
- dry mouth
- weight decrease
- bone thinning (osteoporosis)
- joint pain
- hair loss
- itching and skin rash
- increased sweating
- taste changes
- reduced appetite
- ankle swelling
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- intestinal blockage (severe bloating, severe abdominal pain, swelling, cramps, severe constipation)
- hypocalcaemia – too little calcium in blood (tingling in hands and feet, muscle and abdominal cramps, facial and foot muscle spasms)
- chest pain
Important Warnings
Fosrenol is not suitable for everyone. There are important conditions and situations where this medication should not be used.
Who Should Not Take Fosrenol Chewable Tablets
Do not use Fosrenol if you are allergic to lanthanum carbonate or any ingredients in the tablets, have bowel blockage or obstruction, have no bowel movement (ileus), are unable to defecate due to fecal impaction, or have too little phosphate in your blood (hypophosphataemia).
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have reduced liver function, gastrointestinal tract disease, inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease), history of stomach ulcers, history of bowel blockage, previous abdominal surgery or peritonitis, or reduced kidney function.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Fosrenol may pass into breast milk and is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers as it may have harmful effects on the baby.
Medical Procedures: If you need X-rays or gastrointestinal endoscopy, inform your doctor that you’re taking Fosrenol as it may affect the results or show lanthanum deposits in your digestive tract.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Fosrenol and affect how it works. Fosrenol can affect the absorption of certain medicines from your gut.
Timing is crucial: Many medications need to be taken at least 2 hours before or after Fosrenol to avoid interference with absorption.
- chloroquine (for rheumatism and malaria) – take 2 hours before or after Fosrenol
- ketoconazole (antifungal) – take 2 hours before or after Fosrenol
- tetracycline and doxycycline antibiotics – take 2 hours before or after Fosrenol
- thyroxine (thyroid hormone) – take 2 hours before or after Fosrenol
- quinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin) – take 2 hours before or 4 hours after Fosrenol
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful about activities requiring alertness until you know how Fosrenol affects you.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings are mentioned in the source material.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Dizziness and vertigo (spinning sensation) are uncommon side effects that may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Fosrenol affects you.
Storage
Keep Fosrenol in the original pack until it’s time to take it. Store in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on windowsills. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date on the bottle label.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Fosrenol, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Seek help even if you have no symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fosrenol works by binding phosphate from food in your gut, so it starts working with each meal when taken as directed. Your doctor will monitor your blood phosphate levels to determine how well it’s working for you.
Yes, you must take Fosrenol with or immediately after every meal. This is essential because Fosrenol works by binding to phosphate in the food you eat.
Do not stop using Fosrenol suddenly. Your doctor will decide how long to continue your treatment. Stopping without medical supervision could cause phosphate levels to build up again.
If you forget to take Fosrenol with a meal, take the next dose with your next meal. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Chewing Fosrenol tablets completely is very important to reduce the risk of serious gastrointestinal complications like intestinal rupture or blockage. Never swallow them whole.
Yes, if you have difficulty chewing or wear dentures, you can crush the tablets. However, they still need to be taken with or immediately after meals.
Yes, inform your doctor that you’re taking Fosrenol before any X-rays or gastrointestinal endoscopy, as it may affect the results or show lanthanum deposits in your digestive tract.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.