Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Suspension

• It is used to treat high potassium levels.

For all patients taking sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension:

• If you have an allergy to sodium polystyrene sulfonate or any other part of this medicine.
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you have any of these health problems: Hard stools (constipation), low potassium levels, or if you have not had a bowel movement after surgery.
• If you have ever had any of these health problems: Bowel block, bowel disease, bowel surgery, not able to have a bowel movement, or long-term hard stools (constipation).
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Magnesium hydroxide or sorbitol.

Children:

• If your child is a newborn with bowel function that is not normal.

All oral products:

• If your child is a premature baby or is a newborn. Do not give sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension to a premature baby or a newborn.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• If you are on a low-salt diet (sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension has salt), talk with your doctor.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• If you are taking a salt substitute that has potassium, potassium-sparing diuretics, or potassium, talk with your doctor.
• This medicine may prevent other drugs taken by mouth from getting into the body. If you take other drugs by mouth, you may need to take them at some other time than this medicine. Talk with your doctor.
• Use with care in children. Talk with the doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using sodium polystyrene sulfonate suspension while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, seizures, not hungry, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
• Very loose stools (diarrhea).
• Shortness of breath, a big weight gain, or swelling in the arms or legs.
• Very bad headache.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly bowel problems like bleeding, swelling, and tearing have happened with this medicine. Most people who had these problems were also taking sorbitol. The chance of these problems may be raised if you have low blood volume, kidney disease, or if you have ever had bowel disease or surgery. Call your doctor right away if you have black, tarry, or bloody stools; hard stools (constipation); belly pain; swelling of the stomach; or throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Not hungry.
• Loose stools (diarrhea).
• Upset stomach or throwing up.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.