Lanthanum carbonate

Generic name: lanthanum carbonate [ LAN-than-um-CAR-bo-nayt ]
Brand name: Fosrenol
Dosage forms: oral powder for reconstitution (1000 mg; 750 mg); oral tablet, chewable (1000 mg; 500 mg; 750 mg)
Drug class:Phosphate binders

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Oct 12, 2020. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is lanthanum carbonate?

Lanthanum carbonate is used to lower phosphate levels in patients with end stage kidney disease. High levels of phosphate can make it hard for your body to absorb calcium, which can cause serious medical problems.

Lanthanum carbonate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

You should not use lanthanum carbonate if you have a bowel obstruction or severe constipation.

lanthanum carbonate may cause severe bowel obstruction or a perforation (a hole or tear) in your intestines. Your risk is higher if you have ever had stomach or intestinal problems including ulcers, cancer, surgery, or a bowel obstruction.

Call your doctor at once if you have severe stomach pain or tenderness, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, severe constipation, or blood in your stools.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use lanthanum carbonate if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• a bowel obstruction or severe constipation.

This medicine may cause severe bowel obstruction or a perforation (a hole or tear) in your intestines, especially if you have ever had stomach or intestinal problems.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a stomach ulcer;

• a bowel obstruction;

• slow digestion or severe constipation;

• surgery on your stomach or intestines;

• ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis;

• stomach or intestinal cancer; or

• peritonitis (inflammation of the membrane lining the organs inside your abdomen).

If you need to have any type of x-ray of your stomach area, tell the doctor ahead of time that you are using lanthanum carbonate.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How should I take lanthanum carbonate?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take lanthanum carbonate with food or immediately after eating.

The chewable tablet must be chewe...