Drug Reference
Patiromer
Rx only
Fact box
- Action class
- Potassium Binder
- Mechanism
- Potassium Ion Binding Activity
- Habit forming
- No
- Availability
- Prescription (Rx)
Brand names
Veltassa
Available as
8400 MG · Powder16800 MG · Powder25200 MG · Powder1000 MG · Powder
FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.
Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Veltassa is indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults and pediatric patients ages 12 years and older. Limitation of Use: Veltassa should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] . Veltassa is a potassium binder indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults and pediatric patients ages 12 years and older. ( 1 ) Limitation of Use Veltassa should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action. ( 1 )
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Veltassa is a non-absorbed, cation exchange polymer that contains a calcium-sorbitol counterion. Veltassa increases fecal potassium excretion through binding of potassium in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract. Binding of potassium reduces the concentration of free potassium in the gastrointestinal lumen, resulting in a reduction of serum potassium levels.
How to use / dosing
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION For adults, the recommended starting dose of Veltassa is 8.4 grams administered orally once daily. ( 2.2 ) For adults, adjust dose by 8.4 grams daily as needed at one-week intervals to obtain desired serum potassium target range. ( 2.2 ) For pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age, the recommended starting dose of Veltassa is 4 grams administered orally once daily. ( 2.2 ) For pediatric patients 12 to 17 years of age, adjust dose by 4 grams daily as needed at one-week intervals to obtain desired serum potassium target range. ( 2.2 ) The maximum recommended dosage in adults and pediatric patients older than 12 years is 25.2 grams once daily. ( 2.2 ) 2.1 General Information Administer Veltassa at least 3 hours before or 3 hours after other oral medications except those shown to not have a clinically important interaction [see Drug Interactions (7) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Do not heat Veltassa (e.g., microwave) or add to heated foods or liquids. Do not take Veltassa in its dry form. 2.2 Recommended Dosing and Titration The recommended starting dose of Veltassa varies with age and is shown below. Multiple packets may be used to achieve the prescribed dose. Monitor serum potassium and adjust the dose of Veltassa based on the serum potassium level and the desired target range. The dose may be increased or decreased, as necessary, to reach the desired serum potassium concentration, up to a maximum dose of 25.2 grams once daily in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older. Adults: The recommended starting dose of Veltassa is 8.4 grams patiromer orally once daily. The dose can be up-titrated based on serum potassium level at 1-week or longer intervals, in increments of 8.4 grams. Pediatric Patients Ages 12 years and older: The recommended starting dose of Veltassa is 4 grams patiromer orally once daily. The dose can be titrated based on serum potassium level at 1-week or longer intervals, in increments of 4 grams. 2.3 Preparation of Veltassa Prepare each dose immediately prior to administration. Measure 1/3 cup of water. Pour half of the water into a glass, then add the packet(s) of Veltassa and stir. Add the remaining half of the water and stir thoroughly. The powder will not dissolve and the mixture will look cloudy. Add more water to the mixture as needed for desired consistency. Drink the mixture immediately. If powder remains in the glass after drinking, add more water, stir and drink immediately. Repeat as needed to ensure the entire dose is administered. Other beverages or soft foods (e.g., apple sauce, yogurt, pudding) can be used instead of water to prepare the mixture by following the same steps as described above. A minimum volume of 45 mL (3 tablespoons) can be used to prepare doses up to and including 4 grams patiromer. The potassium content of liquids or soft foods used to prepare the mixture should be considered as part of the dietary recommendations on potassium intake for each individual patient.
Side effects
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reaction is discussed in greater detail elsewhere in the label: Hypomagnesemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 2%) are constipation, hypomagnesemia, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort and flatulence. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Vifor Pharma, Inc. at 1-844-VELTASSA (1-844-835-8277) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Adult Patients Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of Veltassa cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of other drugs and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In the safety and efficacy clinical trials, 666 adult patients received at least one dose of Veltassa, including 219 exposed for at least 6 months and 149 exposed for at least one year. Table 1 provides a summary of the most common adverse reactions (occurring in ≥ 2% of patients) in adult patients treated with Veltassa in these clinical trials. Most adverse reactions were mild to moderate. Constipation generally resolved during the course of treatment. Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 2% of Patients Adverse Reactions Adult Patients treated with Veltassa (N=666) Note: Diarrhea is an aggregate term for Diarrhea and frequent bowel movements. Abdominal discomfort is an aggregate term for Abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper, and abdominal pain lower. Constipation 7.2% Hypomagnesemia 5.3% Diarrhea 4.8% Nausea 2.3% Abdominal discomfort 2.0% Flatulence 2.0% The most commonly reported adverse reactions leading to discontinuation of Veltassa were gastrointestinal adverse reactions (2.7%), including vomiting (0.8%), diarrhea (0.6%), constipation (0.5%) and flatulence (0.5%). Mild to moderate hypersensitivity reactions were reported in 0.3% of adult patients treated with Veltassa in clinical trials. Reactions have included edema of the lips. Laboratory Abnormalities Approximately 4.7% of adult patients in clinical trials developed hypokalemia with a serum potassium value < 3.5 mEq/L. Approximately 9% of adult patients in clinical trials developed hypomagnesemia with a serum magnesium value < 1.4 mg/dL. Pediatric Patients In a single-arm, open-label pediatric study, 14 patients 12 to 17 years of age received at least one dose of Veltassa, including 12 patients exposed for at least 25 weeks. The safety profile was generally similar to that observed in adult patients.
Safety advice
Conservative summary derived from FDA labeling — defaults to “consult your doctor” unless the label is explicit. Not a substitute for your clinician’s advice.
PregnancyConsult your doctor
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Veltassa is not absorbed systemically following oral administration and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal risk.
BreastfeedingConsult your doctor
…8.2 Lactation Risk Summary Veltassa is not absorbed systemically by the mother, so breastfeeding is not expected to result in risk to the infant.…
AlcoholNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
DrivingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
KidneyConsult your doctor
…8.6 Renal Impairment Of the 666 adult patients treated with Veltassa in clinical studies, 93% had chronic kidney disease (CKD).…
LiverNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
Warnings & precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Worsening of Gastrointestinal Motility. ( 5.1 ) Hypomagnesemia. ( 5.2 ) 5.1 Worsening of Gastrointestinal Motility Avoid use of Veltassa in patients with severe constipation, bowel obstruction or impaction, including abnormal post-operative bowel motility disorders, because Veltassa may be ineffective and may worsen gastrointestinal conditions. Patients with a history of bowel obstruction or major gastrointestinal surgery, severe gastrointestinal disorders, or swallowing disorders were not included in the clinical studies. 5.2 Hypomagnesemia Veltassa binds to magnesium in the colon, which can lead to hypomagnesemia. In clinical studies, hypomagnesemia was reported as an adverse reaction in 5.3% of adult patients treated with Veltassa [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ]. Monitor serum magnesium. Consider magnesium supplementation in patients who develop low serum magnesium levels on Veltassa.
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Veltassa is contraindicated in patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to Veltassa or any of its components [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ]. Known hypersensitivity to Veltassa or any of its components. ( 4 )
Pediatric use
8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of Veltassa for lowering serum potassium levels have been established in pediatric patients ages 12 years and older. Use of Veltassa for this indication is supported by evidence from an adequate and well-controlled study in adults, with additional pharmacodynamic and safety data in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) , Adverse Reactions (6.1) , and Clinical Studies (14.3) ]. Safety and efficacy have not been established in pediatric patients below the age of 12 years. Although the pediatric study included 9 patients 6 to less than 12 years of age, the dosing regimen that was evaluated in these patients did not appear to be effective in reducing serum potassium levels in this age group after 2 weeks. The starting dose of Veltassa in this age group was 2 g/day and the median dose at Day 14 was 6 g/day. In this age group the mean change in serum potassium from Baseline to Day 14 was -0.1 mEq/L (95% CI -0.7, 0.4). Because the available data are not sufficient to determine a safe and effective dosing regimen in patients 6 to less than 12 years of age, labeling recommendations cannot be provided for this age group.
⚑ About half of pediatric medication use is off-label and not described in FDA labels — absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children. Confirm with your clinician.
Interactions (label text — not an interaction checker)
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Veltassa has the potential to bind some oral co-administered medications, which could decrease their gastrointestinal absorption. Binding of Veltassa to other oral medications not listed in Table 3 below could cause decreased gastrointestinal absorption and loss of efficacy when taken close to the time Veltassa is administered. Administer other oral medications at least 3 hours before or 3 hours after Veltassa [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Take other orally administered drugs at least 3 hours before or 3 hours after Veltassa except those shown to not have a clinically important interaction. ( 2.1 , 7 ) 7.1 Clinically Important Interaction of Veltassa with Other Drugs The in-vitro binding of the following drugs to patiromer was evaluated and potentially clinically significant binding was observed. Some drugs were subsequently tested in-vivo and significant reduction in systemic exposure was observed [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Binding by Veltassa may reduce the systemic exposure and decrease the clinical efficacy of the co-administered drugs shown in Table 2. The administration of these drugs (and any drugs not listed in Table 3) should be separated by at least 3 hours from Veltassa. Table 2: Clinically important drug interactions of Veltassa Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) Telmisartan β-adrenoceptor blockers (β-blocker) Bisoprolol, carvedilol, nebivolol Antibiotics Ciprofloxacin Anti-Parathyroid Agents and Thyroid Preparations Levothyroxine Blood Glucose Lowering Drugs Metformin Immunosuppressants Mycophenolate mofetil Others Quinidine, thiamine 7.2 No Observed Clinically Important Interaction of Veltassa with Other Drugs The binding of the following drugs to patiromer was evaluated [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] and no clinically significant binding was observed. No separation of dosing is required for these drugs. Table 3: No observed clinically important drug interactions of Veltassa Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors Benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) Azilsartan, candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, valsartan β-adrenoceptor blockers (β-blocker) Metoprolol Loop diuretics Furosemide, bumetanide, torasemide Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) Eplerenone, finerenone, spironolactone Neprilysin inhibitors Sacubitril Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin Antibiotics Trimethoprim, amoxicillin, cephalexin Anticoagulants Warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban Anti-parathyroid agents and Thyroid preparations Cinacalcet Antithrombotic agents Clopidogrel, acetylsalicylic acid Blood glucose lowering drugs Glipizide Calcium channel blockers Amlodipine, verapamil Immunosuppressants Tacrolimus Others Lithium, allopurinol, atorvastatin, digoxin, phenytoin, riboflavin, sevelamer
Overdose
10 OVERDOSAGE Doses of Veltassa in excess of 50.4 grams per day have not been tested. Excessive doses of Veltassa may result in hypokalemia. Restore serum potassium if hypokalemia occurs.
Current FDA labels (DailyMed)
Authoritative sources
Reference only — not clinical advice. Verify against current FDA labeling and consult a licensed provider. About half of pediatric drug use is off-label and is not reflected in FDA labels; absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children.