New medicines
Fosrenol
Composition: Lanthanum carbonate.
Presentation: Chewable tablet.
Class: Phosphate binding agent.
Indications: Control of hyperphosphataemia in chronic renal failure patients
on haemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.
Dosage: Control of serum phosphate levels has been demonstrated at doses
of 750mg a day. Patients who respond to lanthanum therapy usually achieve
acceptable serum phosphate levels at doses of 1,500–3,000mg lanthanum
per day. Tablets must be chewed and not swallowed whole. Fosrenol should
be taken with or immediately after food, with the daily dose divided
between meals.
Contraindications: Patients with hypophosphataemia. Use of Fosrenol to
treat children is not recommended.
Precautions: Patients should adhere to recommended diets in order to
control phosphate and fluid intake.Serum phosphate levels should be monitored
and the dose of Fosrenol titrated every two to three weeks until acceptable
serum phosphate levels are reached, with regular monitoring thereafter.
Patients with hepatic impairment should be monitored carefully: monitoring
of liver function may be necessary. Careful assessment of benefit and
risk should be conducted before patients with acute peptic ulcer, ulcerative
colitis, Crohn’s disease or bowel obstruction are treated with
Fosrenol. Patients with renal insufficiency may develop hypocalcaemia
and their serum calcium levels should be monitored at regular time intervals;
these patients should also take appropriate supplements.
Side effects: Common (>1/100, <1/10) abdominal pain, constipation,
diarrhoea, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, vomiting.
Legal category: POM.
Net price: 90 x 500mg, £114.13; 90 x 750mg, £152.17; 90 x
1,000mg, £161.33.
Contact details: Shire, Hampshire International Business
Park, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 8EP (tel 01256 894000).
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