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What is Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is a cation-exchange resin used in the treatment of hyperkalemia.
Each gram of resin will remove roughly 3 mEq of potassium in vitro, but because sodium polystyrene sulfonate can bind other cations, the actual amount of potassium removed in vivo is closer to 1 mEq per gram of drug.
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is available as a powdered resin or as a commercially available solution that contains sorbitol.
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate exerts its effects over a period of several hours, so it is inappropriate for the acute treatment of life-threatening hyperkalemia. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate was approved by the FDA in 1958.
Brand Names
- Kalexate
- Kayexalate
- Kionex
- Marlexate
- SPS
Indications & Dosage
- hyperkalemia
- The in vivo exchange capacity is approximately 1 mEq of potassium per 1 g sodium polystyrene sulfonate; however, efficiency is variable.
- One gram of sodium polystyrene sulfonate powder or suspension contains approximately 100 mg (4.1 meq) sodium.
- The in vivo efficiency of sodium-potassium exchange resins is approximately 33%. On average, approximately one-third of the resin’s sodium content is delivered to the body.
Side Effects
- anorexia
- bezoar
- bowel necrosis
- colitis
- constipation
- diarrhea
- GI bleeding
- GI obstruction
- GI perforation
- hypocalcemia
- hypokalemia
- hypomagnesemia
- nausea
- vomiting
Monitoring Parameters
- serum calcium
- serum potassium
Contraindications
- binding to other oral medications
- breast-feeding
- burns
- children
- colitis
- constipation
- edema
- fecal impaction
- GI bleeding
- GI obstruction
- heart failure
- hypernatremia
- hypertension
- hypocalcemia
- hypokalemia
- hypomagnesemia
- hypovolemia
- infants
- inflammatory bowel disease
- neonates
- pregnancy
- premature neonates
- renal failure
- sodium restriction
- surgery
Interactions
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Carbonate
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide; Simethicone
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Trisilicate
- Aspirin, ASA; Citric Acid; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Bumetanide
- Calcium Carbonate
- Calcium Carbonate; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Calcium Carbonate; Risedronate
- Calcium Carbonate; Simethicone
- Cardiac glycosides
- Citric Acid; Potassium Citrate
- Citric Acid; Potassium Citrate; Sodium Citrate
- Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate
- Digitoxin
- Digoxin
- Ethacrynic Acid
- Furosemide
- Guaifenesin; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate
- Hetastarch; Dextrose; Electrolytes
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate; Pseudoephedrine
- Ibritumomab Tiuxetan
- Insulins
- Iodine; Potassium Iodide, KI
- Lithium
- Loop diuretics
- Magnesium Citrate
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Meloxicam
- Omeprazole; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Potassium
- Potassium Acetate
- Potassium Bicarbonate
- Potassium Chloride
- Potassium Citrate
- Potassium Gluconate
- Potassium Iodide, KI
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Sorbitol
- Thyroid hormones
- Torsemide
