Important Safety Information

• Do not use Renvela if you have a history of bowel obstruction. • Talk to your doctor if you have had difficulty swallowing or swallowing disorders; or if you have had digestive tract surgery or other digestive disorders, including severe constipation. View additional Important Safety Information.

About Dialysis

A key part of managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) is maintaining a healthy routine. A major part of this routine is going to dialysis regularly. Dialysis gets rid of waste products from your blood. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is the more common of the two forms of dialysis. During hemodialysis, extra fluids and waste are removed from the blood by a machine. The blood goes from the body to the machine's filter, which is called a dialyzer. The dialyzer cleans the blood of the extra fluids and waste, and the clean blood then travels back into the body.1

Peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis, another form of dialysis, removes extra fluids and waste from the blood using a special fluid (called dialysate) and the abdominal cavity lining as a filter. The dialysate is put into the abdominal cavity lining through a tube. The dialysate works to pull extra fluids and waste out of the blood through the abdominal cavity filter. When the dialysate has done its job, it is removed from the abdominal cavity. After the first batch of dialysate has been drained, a new batch is sent into the abdominal cavity to further cleanse the blood of extra fluids and waste.1

Indication for Renvela

Renvela (sevelamer carbonate) is used to control phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis.

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Indication

Renvela is used to control phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis.

Important Safety Information

  • Do not use Renvela if you have a history of bowel obstruction.
  • Talk to your doctor if you have had difficulty swallowing or swallowing disorders; or if you have had digestive tract surgery or other digestive disorders, including severe constipation.
  • The most frequently occurring side effects observed with Renvela tablets include nausea and vomiting.
  • Side effects with Renvela powder taken three times a day are similar to those reported for Renvela tablets
  • The most common side effects with Renagel, which contains the same active ingredient as Renvela, include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, abdominal pain, flatulence, and constipation.
  • Cases of itching, rash, fecal impaction and, less commonly, slow bowel activity, bowel obstruction, and bowel perforation have been reported.
  • Uncommon cases of difficulty swallowing the Renvela tablet have been reported. Talk to your doctor if you have difficulty swallowing medicines in tablet form. Renvela for oral suspension may be considered by your doctor if you have a history of difficulty swallowing.
  • Your doctor should monitor your bicarbonate and chloride blood levels.
  • Reduced vitamins D, E, K (clotting factors), and folic acid blood levels may be followed by your doctor.
  • Talk to your doctor when taking Renvela with other medications.
  • Promptly contact your doctor if you experience severe abdominal pain, new or worsening constipation, or other severe intestinal symptoms while on Renvela.
  • Take Renvela with meals and adhere to your prescribed diet.

Please see full Prescribing Information (PDF).

References

  1. American Kidney Fund. http://www.kidneyfund.org. Accessed April 5, 2011.