What if I have trouble chewing the lanthanum (Fosrenol) tablets?

If you have trouble crushing or chewing the tablets, ask you provider about switching to lanthanum (Fosrenol) powder that you can mix with applesauce or a similar food (not a drink). Eat the food right after mixing in the powder.

Why do people on dialysis have to take phosphate binders like lanthanum (Fosrenol)?

When a person has kidney disease, they aren't able to get rid of excess phosphorus in the body so lanthanum (Fosrenol) helps prevent extra phosphorus from being absorbed from food.

lanthanum

Generic Fosrenol

Used for Hyperphosphatemia, Kidney Disease

Lanthanum (Fosrenol) works well to lower phosphorus levels in the blood without affecting calcium levels in people with advanced kidney disease, but it can be expensive and you need to take it with meals.

Reviewed by:

Allison Gourley, PharmD

Michelle Nguyen, PharmD

Last reviewed on September 8, 2021

What is Lanthanum (Fosrenol)?

What is Lanthanum (Fosrenol) used for?

High blood phosphate levels in advanced kidney disease

How Lanthanum (Fosrenol) works

Lanthanum (Fosrenol) is a phosphate binder. It binds to the phosphates in your food before they can be absorbed, which lowers phosphorus levels to help protect your kidneys and bones.

Drug facts

Common Brands	Fosrenol
Drug Class	Phosphate binder
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	Lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Fosrenol

Drug Class

Phosphate binder

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

Lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

Side effects of Lanthanum (Fosrenol)

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Nausea (11%)
Vomiting (9%)
Belly pain (5%)

Less Common Side Effects

Diarrhea

Source: DailyMed

The following Lanthanum (Fosrenol) side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Stomach pain

Incidence not known

Bloody, black, or tarry stools

bone pain

constipation, severe

difficulty having a bowel movement

itching, skin rash

loss of appetite

seizures

severe stomach pain, cramping, or burning

trouble breathing

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds, severe and continuous

vomiting, severe

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Headache

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Nausea

Incidence not known

Belching

heartburn

indigestion

stomach discomfort or upset

tooth injury

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See more Lanthanum (Fosrenol) side effects

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Avg retail price

$1009.88(Save 84.87%)

$152.78

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Pros and cons of Lanthanum (Fosrenol)

Pros

Works as well as other phosphate binders to lower blood phosphate levels
Easy to take since lanthanum (Fosrenol) comes in powder form, and the tablet form can be crushed or chewed
Calcium-free, which means lanthanum (Fosrenol) doesn't come with the risk of high calcium levels like some other phosphate binders

Cons

Like other phosphate binders, lanthanum (Fosrenol) must be taken with meals.
More expensive than other phosphate binders
Not a good option for people with certain bowel disorders, serious liver disease, or who have trouble chewing or crushing tablets (tablet form only)

Pharmacist tips for Lanthanum (Fosrenol)

Take lanthanum (Fosrenol) with or right after meals so it can bind to the phosphorus in your food.
Crush or chew the tablet fully before swallowing. Swallowing a tablet that isn't fully chewed can cause bad stomach side effects.
Sprinkle the powder on applesauce or other soft foods right before eating it. Don't try to dissolve the powder in a liquid drink.
You can expect to have blood tests done more often when you first start lanthanum (Fosrenol) or when your dose changes. This will help your provider adjust your dose based on your phosphorus level.
Knowing which foods to avoid (like dairy products and certain meats) can help if you have high phosphate levels. Your provider will likely recommend you stick to a low phosphate diet.
Lanthanum (Fosrenol) interacts with products that contain aluminum, magnesium, or calcium. Talk to your provider or pharmacist about how to space the timing of your medications throughout the day, including over-the-counter products and supplements.

Common questions about Lanthanum

Lanthanum works by binding to the phosphorus in your food. The medication won't work if you take it on an empty stomach because there's no food to bind to.

Yes, you should crush or chew the Lanthanum tablet completely before swallowing it so that you don't get an upset stomach. If you were to swallow the tablet whole, you might feel nauseous, have belly pain, or other stomach issues.

If you have trouble crushing or chewing the tablets, ask you provider about switching to Lanthanum powder that you can mix with applesauce or a similar food (not a drink). Eat the food right after mixing in the powder.

When a person has kidney disease, they aren't able to get rid of excess phosphorus in the body so Lanthanum helps prevent extra phosphorus from being absorbed from food.

Lanthanum blocks many medications from getting into the body, so you may need to take them at different times. For example, antacids like Tums, certain antibiotics, and some thyroid medications need to be spaced apart from Lanthanum by 2 hours (before or after). Check with your provider or pharmacist to see if you need to space out your other medications or vitamins.

Risks and warnings for Lanthanum (Fosrenol)

Lanthanum (Fosrenol) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Blockage of your digestive tract

Risk factors: History of changes to your digestive tract's anatomy | History of digestive tract problems | Taking medications that can also cause blockage

Lanthanum (Fosrenol) can cause blockage of the stomach, intestines, or rectum, which can be very dangerous. The risk is higher if you have a history of changes to your digestive tract's anatomy, constipation problems, or are taking medications that can also cause blockage. Call your healthcare provider right away if you feel more constipated that normal, have really bad belly pain, or feel extremely bloated.

Interference with X-rays

Lanthanum (Fosrenol) can show up in an abdominal (stomach area) X-ray. Tell your provider or the technician beforehand that you're taking lanthanum (Fosrenol) since lanthanum (Fosrenol) can affect the X-ray results.

Lanthanum (Fosrenol) dosage

The average cost for 90 chewable tablets of 1000mg of Lanthanum (Fosrenol) is $154.28 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 84.64% off the average retail price of $1,004.55.

Chewable tablet

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
500mg	90 chewable tablets	$154.28	$1.71
750mg	90 chewable tablets	$152.78	$1.70
1000mg	90 chewable tablets	$154.28	$1.71

See more Lanthanum (Fosrenol) dosage

Interactions between Lanthanum (Fosrenol) and other drugs

Lanthanum (Fosrenol) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Lanthanum (Fosrenol). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Erdafitinib

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.