Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
ADVERSE REACTIONS • The most common reasons for discontinuing treatment were gastrointestinal adverse reactions.
( 6.1 ) • In a parallel design study of 12 weeks duration, treatment-emergent adverse reactions to sevelamer hydrochloride tablets in peritoneal dialysis patients included dyspepsia (12%), peritonitis (8%), diarrhea (5%), nausea (5%), constipation (4%), pruritus (4%), abdominal distension (3%), vomiting (3%), fatigue (3%), anorexia (3%), and arthralgia (3%).
( 6.1 ) • Cases of fecal impaction and, less commonly, ileus, bowel obstruction, and bowel perforation have been reported.
( 6.2 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA at 1 (888) 721-7115 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
In a parallel design study of sevelamer hydrochloride with treatment duration of 52 weeks, adverse reactions reported for sevelamer hydrochloride (n=99) were similar to those reported for the active-control group (n=101).
Overall adverse reactions among those treated with sevelamer hydrochloride occurring in >5% of patients included: vomiting (22%), nausea (20%), diarrhea (19%), dyspepsia (16%), abdominal pain (9%), flatulence (8%), and constipation (8%).
A total of 27 patients treated with sevelamer and 10 patients treated with comparator withdrew from the study due to adverse reactions.
Based on studies of 8 to 52 weeks, the most common reason for withdrawal from sevelamer hydrochloride was gastrointestinal adverse reactions (3% to 16%).
In 143 peritoneal dialysis patients studied for 12 weeks, most adverse reactions were similar to adverse reactions observed in hemodialysis patients.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Serious cases of dysphagia, bowel obstruction, bleeding gastrointestinal ulcers, colitis, ulceration, necrosis, and perforation have been associated with sevelamer use, some requiring hospitalization and surgery.
( 5.1 ) 5.1 Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Patients with dysphagia, swallowing disorders, severe gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders, including severe constipation, or major GI tract surgery were not included in the sevelamer hydrochloride clinical studies.
Dysphagia and esophageal tablet retention have been reported in association with use of sevelamer tablets, some requiring hospitalization and intervention.
Consider using sevelamer suspension in patients with a history of swallowing disorders.
Cases of bowel obstruction, bleeding gastrointestinal ulcers, colitis, ulceration, necrosis, and perforation have also been reported with sevelamer use [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)] .
Like all medications, Sevelamer Hydrochloride can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: