| RenagelŪ | |
| Brand Name: | RenagelŪ |
| Active Ingredient: | sevelamer hydrochloride |
| Strength(s): | 403 mg capsules and 400mg and 800mg tablets |
| Dosage Form(s): | Capsules and Tablets |
| Company Name: | GelTex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
| Availability: | Prescription only |
| *Date Approved by FDA: | October 30, 1998 |
| *Approval by FDA does not mean that the drug is available for consumers at this time. | |
What is Renagel used for? Renagel is used to reduce the level of phosphorus in patients with end-stage renal disease that are on hemodialysis.
Who should not take Renagel? You should not take Renagel if you have hypophoshphatemia (low levels of phosphorus) or bowel obstruction.
General Precautions:
- You should stick to your prescribed diet.
- Review all medications with your health care provider, including those that you take without a prescription. If you are on other medications your doctor may want you to take them 1 hour before or 3 hours after your dose of Renagel because Renagel may bind certain drugs.
- Do not chew or take apart the Renagel capsules because the contents expand in water.
What are some possible side effects of Renagel? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Renagel. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)
- Diarrhea
- Infection
- Pain
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Low blood pressure
- Headache
- Blood clot formation
For more detailed information about Renagel, ask your health care provider.
renagel
Can you crush the tablets? or dissolve them in water?
Sarah
Posted By Sarah at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 6:00 AM in Renagel || 1 Reply
blood
Is it possible that Renagel causes changes in protime tests if patient is taking Coumadin? Can it make the blood too thick to go thru artificial heart valve?
Posted By Monty at Fri 2 Dec 2005, 6:00 AM in Renagel || 0 Replies
phenominal prices!!!!!
I can't believe the cost of these meds. My mother is 70 years old and lives on just over $7000.00 per year and one months supply of this renagel is $490.00. How are people expected to pay for this outragiously high priced medication??????
Posted By Unregistered at Tue 5 Jul 2005, 5:00 AM in Renagel || 2 Replies
Rengel
What is the incidence of blood clot formation?
Where does pain usually develop?
What types of infections develop and what is the incidence of infections? Thank you
Posted By Wendi at Fri 2 Dec 2005, 6:00 AM in Renagel || 0 Replies
Potential toxicity with increased dosages or in dosages given without dialy
From first use, I became nauseaus and bloated. I quit the medication, though resumed useage at my nephrologist insistance. The dosage was further increased to three 800mg tablets with each meal and two 800mg tablets with snacks. I am 42 years of age, 5'3" and 125 pounds. Was diagnosed with Alport disease in 2001, following a conclusive renal biopsy. For the past seven weeks I fought with the nauseau and full feeling, later adding vomiting and a low grade fever. Upon turning in my latest 24 hour urine, they drew blood and found my enzymes to be 1200 on the Lypase and 900+ on the Amylase. I was phoned at home and told to go immediately to the emergency room (with a suggested prognosis of "pancreatitis"). They stopped all meds and placed me upon IV fluids and was NPO for the first 24 hours, then allowed some sips of water and eventually a clear liquid diet as the levels began to lower. I asked if it were possible for the "Renagel" to have somehow accumulated in toxic levels or to have set off an infection. Because all nauseau and bloated sensations ceased within the first day of stopping the medication. I am not presently on dialysis and presumed that this might be a factor, since I have yet to see the drug listed without the words "in patients with end stage renal disease that are on dialysis". I have since checked medical web sites and found that Rolaids (Calcium Carbonate) will be sufficient to bind the Phosporus in my bowels (if several are taken with each meal). Renagel may work well for some people in moderate and monitored dosages, but my thoughts are that it could have killed me.
Posted By Andrea at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 6:00 AM in Renagel || 0 Replies
Renagel
I use this for pseudohypoparathyroidism to decrease the amount of phosphorus in my body. This is extremely expensive therapy.
Posted By A at Sat 3 Dec 2005, 6:00 AM in Renagel || 0 Replies
no diarrhea but constipation
Renagel seems to make me constipated, it does not give me diarrhea at all. I am not sure if it has something to do with other medications I take for kidney disease. It was actually awful bad when i first started with renagel; i had to take metamucil. My bowels have gotten significantly better now, I have to say.
Posted By Marcia Luna Hahnemann at Tue 5 Jul 2005, 5:00 AM in Renagel || 2 Replies
Renagel and pseudoxanthoma elasticum
I am taking Renagel for a medical study for Pseudoxanthoma elasticum and have noticed a difference in the way my muscles react to exercise. I have very little lactic acid buildup after running and wiehgt lifting, nothing compared to the way my body used to react. Very little sorness. HOwever I have noticed more hard to describe achiness, almost a restlessleg syndrome after running at night for the next 2-3 days. Can someone explain how low phoisphorous would effect exercising muscles? I relaize most patients on renagel are in the last stage of kidney disease and there is probably little research on this matter.
Posted By Terry at Thu 2 Jun 2005, 5:00 AM in Renagel || 0 Replies