Daily Medication Pearl: Renvela (Sevelamer Carbonate)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Renvela (Sevelamer Carbonate)

Indication: Renvela is a phosphate binder indicated for the control of serum phosphorus in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis.

Insights:

• Dosing: Starting dose of Renvela is 0.8 or 1.6 grams administered orally 3 times per day with meals
• Dosage forms: Powder: 0.8 g and 2.4 g and tablets: 800 mg
• Adverse events: Most common adverse events include vomiting (22%), nausea (20%), serum diarrhea (19%), dyspepsia (16%), abdominal pain (9%), flatulence (8%), and constipation (8%).
• Mechanism of action: Renvela contains sevelamer carbonate, a non-absorbed phosphate binding crosslinked polymer, free of calcium and metal . It contains multiple amines separated by 1 carbon from the polymer backbone. These amines exist in a protonated form in the intestine and interact with phosphate molecules through hydrogen and ionic bonding. By binding phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract and decreasing absorption, sevelamer carbonate lowers the phosphate concentration in the serum (serum phosphorus).

Source:

Renvela (sevelamer carbonate) label (fda.gov)