About CKD*

The main function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Your kidneys play a major role in regulating levels of calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in your body.

When you have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), your kidneys aren’t healthy. As a result, they are less able to filter waste products and maintain the right balance of fluids, minerals, and other substances within your body. You need phosphorus and calcium to keep your bones and teeth strong and you also need PTH to regulate the amounts of these minerals. When your body has too much or too little of one mineral, it can cause other minerals to get out of balance. As your kidney function decreases, this imbalance becomes more of a problem. When you have CKD, maintaining the right balance of phosphorus and calcium, and the right level of PTH is one of the goals of your healthcare team, and it’s an important part of managing CKD.

^*The safety and efficacy of Renvela in CKD patients not on dialysis have not been established.

Important Treatment Considerations

Renvela^® (sevelamer carbonate) and Renagel^® (sevelamer hydrochloride) are used to control phosphorus levels in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on dialysis. Do not use sevelamer if you have very low phosphorus levels or a history of bowel obstruction. Talk to your doctor if you have had digestive tract surgery, or other digestive disorders including severe constipation. The most common side effects with sevelamer include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, abdominal pain, constipation, and rash. In uncommon instances, patients have experienced bowel obstruction. Take sevelamer with meals and adhere to your prescribed diet. Speak to your doctor when taking sevelamer with other medications. Promptly contact your doctor if you experience severe abdominal pain, new or worsening constipation, or other severe intestinal symptoms while on sevelamer. For more information, please see Full Prescribing Information for Renvela, Full Prescribing Information for Renagel or call Genzyme Medical Information at 1-800-847-0069.