Potassium and Sodium Phosphates

Potassium and sodium phosphates comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Take four times a day, unless your doctor recommends to take it more frequently. Take potassium and sodium phosphates at around the same times every day.

Take potassium and sodium phosphates exactly as directed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking potassium and sodium phosphates,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this drug, any part of this drug, or any other drugs, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while taking potassium and sodium phosphates. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• the following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with potassium and sodium phosphates: antacids containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking potassium and sodium phosphates. Do not start any of these medications while taking potassium and sodium phosphates without discussing with your healthcare provider.
• tell your doctor if you have infected phosphate stones, high levels of phosphate in your blood, or kidney disease. Your doctor may tell you not to take potassium and sodium phosphates.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high blood pressure, high levels of sodium in the blood, preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), inflammation of the pancreas, Addison's disease (body doesn't make enough of certain hormones) or thyroid, lung, heart, or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Potassium and sodium phosphates may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain
• bone and joint pain

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• (Hyper K) numbness or tingling around lips; numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of hands or feet; fast or irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath or troubled breathing
• (Hypo K) unusual tiredness or weakness, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps
• (Hyper Na) decreased urination, unusual thirst, mental confusion, swelling or weakness of feet or lower legs, unusual weight gain, seizures
• (Hypo Na) headaches, dizziness, mental confusion, muscle weakness and cramps, seizures

Potassium and sodium phosphates may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach https://www.upandaway.org

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to potassium and sodium phosphates.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking potassium and sodium phosphates.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.