Lanthanum
About Lanthanum
Lanthanum is a prescription medication used to lower high phosphorus levels in the blood of patients with end-stage kidney disease who are on dialysis. When kidneys fail, they can no longer remove extra phosphorus, which can lead to serious bone and heart problems. Lanthanum binds to phosphorus in your gut so your body can pass it out safely.
To work effectively, you must take Lanthanum consistently with or immediately after every meal and major snack. It is crucial to chew the tablets completely before swallowing to help the medicine mix with your food and prevent stomach issues. Along with this medicine, following a low-phosphorus diet recommended by your renal dietitian is key to achieving the best results.
While taking Lanthanum, you may experience mild digestive issues like nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you develop severe constipation, severe abdominal pain, or notice blood in your stool.
Before starting Lanthanum, tell your doctor if you have a history of a blocked bowel, severe constipation, stomach ulcers, or recent abdominal surgery. Do not take this medicine if you currently have a blocked bowel or severe, untreated constipation.
Lanthanum can stop other medications from being absorbed properly, so you must space out your other oral drugs as directed by your pharmacist. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or an older adult, consult your doctor to ensure this treatment is safe for you.
Uses of Lanthanum
Medicinal Benefits
Lanthanum helps control high phosphate levels in people with chronic kidney disease by reducing the absorption of phosphorus from food. By maintaining healthy phosphate levels, it supports bone health and helps reduce complications associated with excess phosphorus.
- Helps Protect Bone Health: By lowering phosphate levels, Lanthanum helps prevent calcium loss from the bones, reducing the risk of weak, brittle, and painful bones associated with chronic kidney disease.
- Supports Heart and Blood Vessel Health: Maintaining healthy phosphate levels helps reduce the formation of calcium-phosphate deposits in blood vessels and other tissues, supporting long-term cardiovascular health.
- Helps Relieve Symptoms of High Phosphate Levels: By controlling excess phosphorus, Lanthanum may help reduce symptoms such as persistent itching and supports better overall wellbeing in people with advanced kidney disease.
Directions for Use
- Lanthanum should be taken with or immediately after a meal.
- Your doctor will decide the dosage and timing of Lanthanum based on your serum phosphorus level.
- Chew the tablet completely before swallowing it.
- Do not swallow it as a whole.
Storage
Side Effects of Lanthanum
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach pain or bloating
- Diarrhoea or mild constipation
Serious Side Effects (Consult a doctor right away)
- Severe constipation or inability to have a bowel movement
- Severe, sudden stomach pain or cramping
- Black, tarry, or bloody stools
- Difficulty swallowing or feeling like food is stuck in your chest
Drug Warnings
- Never swallow tablets whole: Swallowing these tablets whole can cause serious, life-threatening blockages or tears in your digestive tract.
- Inform your radiologist: Lanthanum can show up on abdominal X-rays. Tell your doctor or radiologist that you are taking this medicine before undergoing any abdominal imaging tests.
- Monitor your bowel habits: Keep close track of your bowel movements. If you become constipated or notice a change in your normal bathroom routine, tell your doctor right away to prevent severe blockages.
- Space other medications: To prevent Lanthanum from binding to other medicines, take your other oral drugs at least one hour before or three hours after taking this medication.
Drug Interactions
- Antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin or tetracycline): Lanthanum can bind to these drugs in your gut, making them less effective. Take these antibiotics at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking Lanthanum.
- Thyroid hormone (levothyroxine): Taking levothyroxine too close to Lanthanum can lower its absorption. Space these medications out by at least 2 hours.
- Heart or blood pressure medicines: Some medications may have reduced absorption when taken together. Consult your pharmacist for specific timing advice.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Lanthanum to avoid unpleasant side-effects.
Pregnancy
cautionLanthanum is Category C pregnancy medicine. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this, your doctor will prescribe you Lanthanum only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionThe safety of Lanthanum has not been established in breastfeeding women. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this, your doctor will decide whether Lanthanum can be given to breast-feeding mothers or not.
Driving
not applicableLanthanum has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive or operate any machinery or vehicles.
Liver
cautionLanthanum should be used with caution in patients with liver impairment/liver disease. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionLanthanum should be used with caution in patients with kidney impairment/kidney disease. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
cautionThe dose needs to be adjusted and recommended by a child specialist only.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Strictly follow the low-phosphorus diet recommended by your renal dietitian.
- Limit or avoid foods high in phosphorus, such as dairy products, nuts, seeds, beans, cola drinks, and processed foods with added phosphates.
- Read food labels carefully and avoid ingredients containing 'phos' (like dicalcium phosphate or sodium acid pyrophosphate).
- Attend all scheduled dialysis sessions as prescribed, as dialysis is essential for filtering other waste products from your blood.
Special Advise
- Please regularly monitor your serum phosphate levels, vitamin D, A, E, K, and folic acid levels while taking Lanthanum.
- Do not stop taking the Lanthanum until your doctor says so.
- Do not use Lanthanum if you have a history of bowel obstruction.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hyperphosphatemia: Hyperphosphatemia (high phosphate level in blood) is often a complication of chronic kidney disease. Phosphate is an important electrolyte. It strengthens your bones, and teeth and produces energy. When phosphate levels increase in your blood due to kidney impairment (the kidney does not remove extra phosphate from the body), it can cause muscle problems and increase your risk for weak bones, heart attacks and strokes. It is more common in people with chronic kidney disease and people on dialysis. Increased serum phosphorus levels can also lead to hard deposits in the blood vessels (calcification). It can stiffen your blood vessels and make it harder to pump blood through the body's organs. Symptoms of increased blood phosphorus include itchy skin, red eyes, bone pain and fractures.
FAQs
Lanthanum treats hyperphosphataemia (high phosphate levels in the body).
High phosphate levels in the blood generally occur due to kidney disorders that may affect calcium levels. The body starts working in an opposite manner, and as phosphate levels rise, calcium levels will fall.
It is advised to avoid foods already high in phosphorus, such as dairy foods, oatmeal, beans, lentils, nuts, bran cereals, colas, and other drinks with phosphate additives.
Lanthanum is in a class of medications called phosphate binders. Lanthanum works by holding onto phosphate from the diet so that it can pass out of your body.
It is advised not to take ciprofloxacin with Lanthanum as it may interfere with the working of Lanthanum, and therefore, it should not be taken at the same time as Lanthanum.
Yes, it is advised to go for certain lab tests, like serum phosphate levels, which should be monitored regularly while you are taking Lanthanum. The use of Lanthanum may decrease the levels of vitamin D, A, E, K, and folic acid, and hence, the levels need to be monitored during the treatment.
It is advised not to stop taking Lanthanum, as it is a phosphate binder used to control the phosphate level in the blood. If you stop taking Lanthanum, your phosphate levels may elevate again. Please consult your doctor.
Chewing the tablets completely is vital to increase the surface area of the medicine so it can bind to the phosphorus in your food effectively. Swallowing them whole can also cause serious injury or blockages in your throat or digestive tract. Talk to your doctor if you have trouble chewing.
No, you should not take Lanthanum on an empty stomach. This medicine is designed to bind to the phosphorus in your food, so it must be taken during or immediately after a meal or snack to work properly. Talk to your doctor if your eating patterns change.
No, Lanthanum does not cure kidney disease. It is a supportive treatment used to manage high phosphorus levels, which is a common complication of kidney failure. Talk to your doctor about your complete kidney care plan.
If you develop severe constipation, stop taking the medication and contact your doctor immediately. Constipation can lead to serious bowel blockages while using this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on managing bowel habits safely.
Lanthanum can appear on abdominal X-rays and may look like a contrast agent, which can interfere with the results of your scan. Always tell your radiologist or doctor that you are taking this medicine before any imaging tests.
While there is no direct chemical interaction between alcohol and Lanthanum, drinking alcohol can negatively affect your kidney health and dietary management. Talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to drink alcohol.
